We know the power of poetry to demand change and to heal our world. On July 31, at Eatonville restaurant, we will be using that power to throw a benefit for the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a grassroots 501(c)3 environmental health and justice organization that has been helping residents living near Louisiana refineries fight air pollution for years, and is now helping them track and respond to the BP Oil Disaster that is ravaging the Gulf.

As a place of great artistic history, cultural diversity, and environmental importance, the Gulf region has an important place in our world. The urgency of this situation, as millions of gallons of oil flood the waters, suffocate the ocean, and threaten the livelihood of the people, gets greater with each day. Join Mississippi poet Angela Ball and DC-area poets Chris August and Sonya Renee as we raise our voices against the greed and corruption that caused this catastrophe.

Tickets to the event are $10, and can be purchased at the door. There will also be a raffle, featuring items from local businesses like ACKC and Fiddleheads, as well as items from a Mississippi artisan. Enjoy appetizers from Eatonville, the DC Youth Slam Team, and live music as well. Come and join us as we raise our voices in celebration and support of the Gulf!

Sponsored by Split This Rock, Eatonville Restaurant, and the Institute for Policy Studies.