The Dougherty Arts Center is celebrating spoken word poetry with a special Facebook live showcase, featuring renowned local writers Ebony Stewart and Joe Brundidge. Listen in as both nationally recognized performance artists, authors, and community activists share their powerful poetry as a tool for change.

Joe Brundidge is an author, host, teaching artist, and public speaker. He has hosted a number of open mic events for almost 20 years, including Spoken & Heard at Kick Butt Coffee, an event he curated from 2007-2017. He also served as the Director of the Austin International Poetry Festival from 2012-2015, and was a co-host of “Writing On The Air” Wednesdays from 6p-7p on KOOP 91.7fm. His most recent book “Element 615” was published by Lit City Press in 2017.

Ebony Stewart was the only poet to perform at the 2018 Seattle Pride Festival before 200,000 people. . She is an international touring poet and performance artist whose work speaks to the black experience, with an emphasis on gender, sexuality, womanhood, and race. In addition to being an award-winning artist, Ebony Stewart is also a community activist and influencer. She is the author of “Love Letters to Balled Fists” and “Home.Girl.Hood.” Her work has been featured in For Harriet, AfroPunk, Teen Vogue, and The Texas Observer.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact (512) 974-3914 or Relay Texas 7-1-1.

This event is appropriate for adults 13 and up.