Last year a teacher approached us to collaborate on a new school activity- an Open Mic Night where kids could come stand in front of an audience in a coffee shop-like atmosphere and perform. I said absolutely, sign me up. It was another opportunity for students to participate in an activity that celebrates creativity and uses our beautiful new library as the backdrop.

Because the teacher is a performer himself, he led the charge to sign students up and emceed the night, which included fantastically goofy segues. I would set the scene with snacks and hot drinks, atmospheric decorations like glowing tea lights, and advertise the heck out of it.

Last year we hosted several and we’re on track to do three this year. Wednesday night was the first and as is with last year’s, I am awed by their capacity to perform. This session included all singing and a few instruments, but we have seen spoken word and poetry. One student performed an original song and a duet spun the fast-moving Hamilton track, “The Schuyler Sisters” to finish out the night and blow our minds. Whether they were doing karaoke or embodying Elvis, it’s all just words… words in different ways and whether we’re reading words on a page as a book or listening to a song, it’s worth thinking about all of the innovative ways words can be arranged and affect us.