This past weekend I had the opportunity to join IPR Healing Artz Space in South Central Los Angeles for their very first Open Mic at the organization’s art studio on South Main Street. The event featured poets from in and around the historic South Central L.A. area, as well as the community’s very own South Central Vegans, who generously donated a much-beloved vegan-style pozole for attendees.
Poets described their sense of coming up on the South side and the area’s often ‘contentious’ relationship with the larger city of L.A., as well as their perspectives on the national political landscape overtaking much of the news of late, and more.
Representatives from IPR also took the opportunity to state for the record the organization’s commitment to radical change and policy, as well as the group’s plans for more art workshops and Open Mic events dedicated to the South Central community.
In turn, yours truly registered an affirming call to youth all across L.A. letting them know that no matter their hurt, healing is always just around the corner; the arts are one way there, and IPR and its partners are demonstrating this in full.
Much respect and congratulations!
J.T.