On Monday, March 4, from 8:30 to 10 p.m., the Center for Creativity and the student organization Pitt Active Minds will host Open Mic Open Minds at Nordy’s Place in the William Pitt Union. The collaboration aims to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by raising awareness through spoken word, poetry and music.

“I’d love to see faculty and staff attend even if they don’t want to perform,” said Kit Ayars, director of the Center for Creativity. “I know how deeply moved I’ve been at past open mic performances, and I think it’s an experience that can help us better understand what students are living every day.”

The event will feature a performance by Lauren Russell, associate director of the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics and research assistant professor in the Department of English, and will also include graduate students Hannah Eko and Heather Kresge from the department’s Master of Fine Arts program. After their readings, the stage will open for all participants to share their work.

How to particpate

In addition to having slots reserved for participants who have signed up to perform, the program also is making reservations to have pieces submitted anonymously performed by volunteers. Attendees who would like to share their work, but are uncomfortable doing so on stage, can use this option to have their work performed by a volunteer. Details about how to submit work to either perform yourself or for others to perform are available online.