2 years may not seem like a long time, but in Boston nightlife, that's a lifetime. Go PE, it's ya birfday...

POETIC ESCAPE
The 2 Year Anniversary Party & Black History Month Celebration

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25TH, 2008

HOSTED BY: ELIE, NURI & HERBY F .

.:: POETIC ::.
SheyButta - Sirius Black - Intrigue
RoseBaby - Louna Eclipse - Iguehi
Wendy Sanchez - Ashley Rose - Ali
Shaie - Francis - JadaLyric - Andre Sparrow
Umeleni - Azizi The Poet - Shawn Kennedy
NURI - 3RD Knowledge - POPS

.::Featured Poet & Guest Host::.
BLACK ICE (HBO Def Poetry Jam)

.:: ESCAPE ::.
Jason Hunter & The Boys
Evan Cole
Jose Suazo
R&B - JAZZ - FUNK - ROCK - BLUES

DJ SolBak { TSM}
DJ BRUNO{ utopiaboston.com}
JAZZ - FUNK - DISCO
70's-90's SOUL CLASSICS
R & B - NEO SOUL
DEEP HOUSE - CLASSIC HIP-HOP

$10.00 | CASUAL DRESS | 21+

FOR MORE INFO:
poeticescape@gmail.com
myspace.com/poeticescapeboston
www.socialmixxer.com

Purchase advance tickets online!

If you enjoy live jazz and particularly live jazz with poetry, then hopefully you've had the opportunity to check out the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam on Sunday nights, featuring the Jeff Robinson Trio. Jeff Robinson is an amazing musician who's dedication to bringing exceptional music and poetry to the greater Boston area has been an invaluable contribution. His latest contribution, Live Bird, is sure to be masterful.

"Live Bird is a one-man play celebrating the life of jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker. The play is set in a bar in Harlem, the summer of 1947. Bird talks about his days in Kansas City, Missouri to imaginary characters, imitates Lester Young and plays some of his own songs.

Written and performed by playwright, actor, director and musician Jeff Robinson. Mr. Robinson was nominated for Best Actor by the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) for his portrayal of Charlie Parker in the play.

A few quotes about Live Bird.

"I knew Charlie as a man and not simply as a musical genius. Jeff portrays the Charlie I knew." Widow, Doris Parker

"This is one of the best plays about Bird that I've ever experienced" Frank Morgan, Jazz Legend and Charlie Parker protege.

"Live Bird should be moved to off-Broadway... It deserves wider exposure" Ira Gitler, Jazz Historian, Critic

"Robinson has Bird down cold... Robinson does it so convincingly you'll forgive Parker for his flaws just to be in his presence" David Yaffe, The Village Voice

"If you have an opportunity to see Jeff Robinson's Live Bird you must." Nick Catalano, All About Jazz.com

"It takes a multifaceted individual to conceive and perform a one-man play on Charlie Parker, and Jeff Robinson fit's the bill" Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe

"Everyone agrees on what Charlie Parker did for jazz. The arguments start when anyone talks about who he was. But there's a remarkable consensus - even among people who new the alto saxophonist that "Live Bird", Boston-based playwright-actor-saxophonist Jeff Robinson's one-man play about Parker, gets him right." Ed Hazell, Jazziz Magazine

There will also be a Poetry Jam with Roger Bonair-Agard, Nicole Terez Dutton and Regie Gibson with the Jeff Robinson

http://cmacusa.org"

Friday, February 20, 2009

7:30pm - 11:00pm
The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
41 Second Street Cambridge, MA

It's about to be a love fest tonight people. I'm talking dedications, declarations and poetic exclamations - especially if today's weather is any indication. Come through and bask in the love bath:

.:: POETIC ESCAPE ::. A LOVER'S QUARREL

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11TH, 2008
@ Blue Wave
343 Congress Street, Boston
8:30PM

HOSTED BY: ELIE, NURI & HERBY F.

$5.00 | CASUAL DRESS | 21+

For more info:
poeticescape@gmail.com
myspace.com/poeticescapeboston

A Call-To-Action: Suicide Awareness and Prevention for Communities of Color

Quiet as it's kept, suicide is a huge issue among people of color. So then why is it kept quiet?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "[a]lthough black youths have historically had lower suicide rates than have whites, during 1980-1995, the suicide rate for black youths aged 10-19 years increased from 2.1 to 4.5 per 100,000 population. As of 1995, suicide was the third leading cause of death among blacks aged 15-19 years, and high school-aged blacks were as likely as whites to attempt suicide. ...suicidal behavior among all youths has increased; however, rates for black youths have increased more, and the gap between rates for black and white youths has narrowed."*

How many of you out there knew this? How many of you out there know a person in pain?

If you're interested in knowing more, you might want to check out this event:

A Call-To-Action: Suicide Awareness and Prevention for Communities of Color

"Expert speakers join health care professionals, policy leaders, educators, and community partners in discussions and small working-groups to develop strategies addressing Health Care Disparity and suicide in communities of color. The outcome of this planning meeting will uncover gaps in the research, develop and identify resources for communication materials, and set the agenda for a fall 2009 conference –– Affirming Life."

Thursday, February 12, 2009
8:00am - 5:00pm
University of Massachusetts Boston- McCormack Building- Ryan Lounge
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Email: help.affirmlife@gmail.com


*These statistics are only covering black youth. The data for adults, Latino/as, Asian Americans and Native Americans is astounding as well.

Beats and Barak

There are some movies I can watch over and over again, never get tired of and constantly find something new and interesting within when I watch. The Matrix, Enter the Dragon, City of God, and Byron Hurt's documentary Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes all make the list. If you haven't seen Hurt's film that probes the heart and soul of HipHop's masculinity, leave work on Thursday, stop and grab yourself something to eat and head over to Hurt's alma mater, Northeastern University for:

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes and Barack & Curtis
Join Byron Hurt and the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated as he shows and discusses Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes and Barack & Curtis: Manhood, Power, & Respect at Northeastern University.

Thursday, February 5, 2009
6:30-9:30PM @ 325 Shillman Hall Northeastern University

I haven't seen Barak & Curtis (part of The Masculinity Project, a short doc examining the contrasting styles of manhood exhibited by Barack Obama and Rapper/Mogul Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent. Supported by NBPC, ITVS, and the Ford Foundation), but judging from Hurt's other work, it should be a hit.

It was a long, arduous journey but we made it. I am proud to say that I was there to bear witness. Now it's time for the next phase of this fantastic voyage to begin. Let's not stop the hard work that brought us to this point. Rather, let us redouble our efforts!

That said, let's get back to what's going down in beatown. It's been awhile since I've made an update and I'm pleased to say that a lot has been jumping off. Artists, promoters, DJs, and nightlife enthusiasts have been putting in a lot of hard work to make Boston a better place and it's paying off. A debt of gratitude for this is owed to the Greatest Minds participants who have been making it happen for months now. You too can put your head together with some great minds tonight!


Join Boston's BEST in the GREATEST MINDS Social Mixer and Networking Event:

TONIGHT - Monday, February 2nd, 2009
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Rudi's Bistro
811 Massachusetts Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02118
Phone Number: 617.345.5432

(next to the Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue and near Boston Medical Center/Boston City Hospital)

The GREATEST MINDS Team has been meeting for over the last six months in the areas of :

EDUCATION PIPELINE (K-16)
POLITICS in Boston
The Boston Nightlife for Black People
CIVIC LIFE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & New Businesses
ARTS & MUSIC SCENE
NETWORKING
INTER-GENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMATION : Next Generation Leaders

Join us for a chance to meet others who are doing great and innovative work in the city of Boston. May it be starting a business, opening a new club night, looking for new volunteers, interested in politics or running for office, looking to share your services in graphics or event planning, interested in starting a new organization or join one, an artist or new to the area. Come to this event and meet Boston's most interesting people that want to make it work!

We also are finishing our ACTION STEPS for each of those areas and plan to present them at Hibernia Hall in February 2009. We are also working on the GREATEST MINDS Conference in June 2009. So stayed tuned.

This event is FREE!

We suggest that you bring flyers for your upcoming events and business cards to pass around.
For our conversations and feedback from people, there have been many new collaborations that have come out of the GREATEST MINDS meetings. Why not join in the fun!!

FREE PARKING. Please note there is free parking in the Parking Lot of the Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel. FREE PARKING!

This event is sponsored by the National Black College Alliance's Next Generation Program and the NBCA's GREATEST MINDS Initiative.

On a totally unrelated note, I just want to add my congrats to Erykah Badu and Jay Electronica on the birth of their baby girl yesterday afternoon. Celebrate life!