in Person and on Zoom

Location: The Spacebar Cafe & Wine Bistro, 7454 University Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942

KNSJ Host Jim Moreno announces this month’s 2nd Sunday–Jihmye Poetry-Open Mic

Featuring Poet ANGÉLICA M. YAÑEZ

2nd Sunday is in solidarity with Activist San Diego, The World Beat Center, 100,000 Poets for Change, The San Diego/Tijuana ReEvolutionary Poets Brigade, Black Lives Matter, The New Georgia Project, Seed the Vote, The Border Angels, The Binational Friendship Garden, The Brown Berets, and defenders of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84142725900

Zoom Master: Alfred Williams

ANGÉLICA M. YAÑEZ holds a PhD in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego. She is the editor of United States History from a Chicano Perspective. Her activism and research interests center in community building, race, and cultural revitalization of Mexican Indigenous traditions in the United States.

Dr. Yañez is a traditional Aztec Dancer that honors the legacies of her Indigenous ancestors. She has served as a dedicated advisor to both a writing group and M.E.Ch.A., fostering activism within her college campus and the wider community. She is also the founder of The Ancestral Teachings Institute, a place for cultural learning and Indigenous wisdom. Visit The Ancestral Teachings Institute and email her at info@ancestralteach.com.

Poets have 2 poems or five minutes. Musicians have two songs or 10 minutes. Info: (619) 461-7100 or (760) 802-2449

Jim Moreno, Artivist (Artist and Activist) talks about 2nd Sunday-Jihmye Poetry-Open Mic:

In the fall of 2010, Jihmye Collins asked me to have breakfast on a Saturday morning at the Big Kitchen, South Park’s bastion of great, abundant food, the warm, welcoming magic of owner Judy the Beauty, and clientele who mostly lean to the left as they keep the 60s social activism alive and well. As he enjoyed his eggs & toast he explained he wanted me to help him co-host an open mic at the only Black-owned coffeeshop/deli in La Mesa, The Spacebar Cafe & Wine Bistro Internet Cafe.  We set the target date for the 4th Thursday in October, 2010. He told me he had arranged for San Diego treasure Michael Klam to feature. As I enjoyed my oatmeal, fruit, and huge warm muffin, I told him I was in.  Poets get 7 minutes to recite. Musicians get to perform 2 songs.  Our feature could be a poet or a musician. A feature is allotted 25 minutes   Any art project shared with Jihmye Collins was an exercise in cooperation, creativity, and imagination . His combined experience with the United States Army,  

the Black Panther Party For Self-Defense, and his Bahai Faith paved a road for his students lined with respect and innovation. In the following months, Lizzy Wann and Bennie Herron energized the Space Bar stage as Jihmye’s and Lanetta’s art adorned the walls.  The usual suspects showed up for the open mic:  award winners, youth, elders, beginners, the serious, the outraged, the wounded, the thinkers, the feelers, the seekers of poetry community. The latter described Jihmye and me as our main reason for co-creating the gathering.  We wanted a diverse, talented community to share extremely deep creativity with one another about this beautiful and troubled world we inhabit.  We were especially interested in voices that corporate media is shy about: voices that inhibit the corporate world’s bottom line, voices that we felt many Americans and non-Americans make audible during our day, but are denied any public vehicle by a war government and a war society corrupted by the lies of the worshippers of the god of profit.  When Jihmye passed away in March of 2011 from a stroke, I was one of many who were not ready for him to be absent from our art and political scene.  The owners of the Spacebar, Frank and Patricia, and I agreed that we would continue Jihmye’s vision.  The 2nd Sunday Jihmye Poetry Open Mic will continue.  We gather from 3-5:30 PM every 2nd Sunday of every month. We’ll read and recite in person and on Zoom now: ID: 990 814 5215, password: poets write, the 2nd Sunday of each month.  Jihmye’s legacy and spirit will guide us in love for the spoken word and cultural respect. You bring your muse and a poem, a song, a dance, a vibe. I’ll bring energy, rhythm, and a happiness to engage and inspire our poetry community. Just like Jihmye said, See you then.