Two Free Community Programs with Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion Presented by Shore Lit, BAAM, and TCFL

Shore Lit, BAAM, and the Talbot County Free Library invite the community to join Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion for two special events at the BAAM campus on Saturday, March 14.

On Saturday evening, Lady Brion will offer a free performance of her spoken word poetry at the BAAM Athletic Center. The performance will begin at 5pm, with doors opening at 4:30pm. The first 50 arrivals will receive a free copy of her book, With My Head Unbowed, with additional copies available for purchase at the venue. A book signing will follow the event. Registration is required.

On Saturday afternoon, Lady Brion will lead students in a generative poetry workshop at the BAAM Ryan Family Library from 1pm to 3pm. This workshop is designed for any middle or high school student who wants to explore the act of writing (no prior writing experience is required). Participation is free and registration is required. A complimentary pizza lunch will be served.

“Though creative writing is often excluded from classroom curriculums, as a teacher (and as a creative writer myself), I have witnessed extraordinary value in offering young people this avenue for artistic expression and intellectual development. I could not be more thrilled that Lady Brion will be bringing her considerable teaching skills and her powerful voice to BAAM this month for her first-ever Talbot County performance,” says Shore Lit Director Kerry Folan.

Lady Brion is an international spoken word artist, activist, organizer, and educator, currently serving as the executive director of Baltimore’s Black Arts District. In 2024, she was appointed by Governor Wes Moore as the Poet Laureate of Maryland, making her the youngest Poet Laureate in Maryland’s history and the only spoken word artist to ever hold this position. She received her B.A. in Communication and Culture from Howard University and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore. During her slam career she has won the 2016 and 2021 National Poetry Slam, the 2017 and 2019 Southern Fried Regional Slam, and the 2019 Rustbelt Regional Slam. In 2021 she became the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion making her the number 1 ranked woman slam poet in the world.

Shore Lit is based in Easton, Maryland, and aims to enhance local cultural offerings with free author events open to the public. Our programs are designed to explore relevant ideas, foster literary conversation, and build inclusive community. For updates, sign up for our monthly newsletter at shorelit.org.

BAAM Building African American Minds teaches underserved children and adults how to achieve the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to maximize or augment their potential as responsible and productive citizens through academic, social and emotional learning programs. BAAM seeks to create a community culture where success in school and in life is the norm and not the exception.

With locations in Easton and St. Michaels, Talbot County Free Library connects our community to ideas and information to enrich and renew lives.