Largo, Maryland – The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) celebrates creativity through its wide range of programs for all ages. This October, which is “Teentober” at the Library, PGCMLS presents Fresh Voices, an open mic event for teens as part of the Art Speaks series, at The Pebble Pop-up Library at the National Harbor on Thursday, October 20, at 4:30 pm. DMV poetry guru Patrick Washington hosts this event where teens and adults can express themselves through freestyle or bring their written lyrics or poetry to perform with DJ Frank's tracks. The event is co-presented with Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council. Free, registration recommended. 

“Arts’tination and the Pebble Pop-up Library provide engaging spaces for Prince George’s County youth to connect with and learn from established artists in the community,” said Nicholas A. Brown, Acting Co-Chief Executive Officer, PGCMLS. “Patrick Washington is a local treasure and we are excited to work with him to give local creatives the chance to showcase their talents.”

Patrick Washington, the creator of the Prince George's County Youth Poet Laureate program and poetry director for Hip-Hop Nonprofit Words Beats & Life Inc., hosts the Fresh Voices Open Mic. He has contributed to the Hip-Hop community in the DMV and is considered a master of genre fusion. His poetry is very well recognized in the country because he participated in several “HBO Presents Def Poetry” episodes. In 2011 he performed a poem dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial unveiling. Washington also shares his talent with young artists in workshops for The American Poetry Museum, Young Audiences of Maryland, and YouthBuild, among others. He is a teacher at hearth and an ambassador for poets in the community.

Listing

Art Speaks: Fresh Voices Open Mic
Thursday, October 20, 4:30-6 pm
Location: The Pebble Pop-up Library at Arts’tination, National Harbor, 162 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Free, registration recommended

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About The Pebble Pop-up Library

The Pebble Pop-up Library is a self-service pop-up location of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS). Located within Arts’tination at National Harbor, a retail gallery and community space managed by Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, the Pebble Pop-up offers a collection of books for youth and adults focused on creativity and the arts. The pop-up is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday 1-6 pm.

About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 967,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve book lovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. PGCMLS is the recipient of the 2021 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award for Workforce and Economic Development. Learn more at pgcmls.info/about-us.