Smethwick Library Celerate Black History Month with a Windrush Themed Event - 25th October 2023
Poetry on Loan sent Gracey Bee along to Smethwick Library to help them celebrate Black History Month.
What the participants said:
It has been welcoming and very informative. Excellent
Everybody was involved, included and she creatively inspired me. - Demetrius
It was more interactive than I anticipated but really good. Gracey Bee was good at including us + listening.
Excellent – Gracey's poetry of our joint conversation on Windrush was amazing and inspirational – [R Lawson]
Coming to this event and to learn more about the Windrush generation and still learning, I enjoyed very much taking part in the conversation and hearing different aspects from everyone, about experiences from parents, grandparents... their journey... about Windrush and how it impact their lives.
Teaching about black history, Excellent - S. Lucas (and daughter).
A lovely informative event. Especially with various cultures. Need more throughout the year.
Excellent
Interesting event. [Mrs Barnalay]
It has been good to learn more about the Windrush.
Teaching about black history...
Interactive, inspirational, educational, fun.
Excellent. Brilliant poet – Sophie
Excellent. Enjoyed it. Very pleasant event – Harinder
I learnt a lot from this event. Excellent
It was a great event, I feel that these events – black history events, should be on more regularly. J Willis
Came to this event to get some insight about the poet Gracey Bee and find out what she had to offer to me about being a poet. Excellent.
Gracey Bee, thank you for an amazing event from inspiring and inspirational topics discussed.
A very informative, entertaining event. Very appreciative of new knowledge from other members of the group. Enjoyable poems, especially the last one made up in real time with the information from people who participated at the event. – R Mcken
Great discussion and a lot of positive outcomes.
Sandwell Libraries Get a Visit from Gracey Bee for Windrush 75 - 22nd June 2023
Windrush 75 events in Sandwell gave the chance for residents to come together and celebrate their shared history in the company of performance poetry Gracey Bee who visited West Brom Central Library and the Oldbury Library later in the day.
What the library staff said:
"This was a fabulous event and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. Gracey told poems about Windrush but also interacted well with the audience asking for memories and history."
What the participants said:
Encouraging group participation was used expertly to inform her poetry
The message being 'Windrush Generation Change the Nation'
we all felt the method reflected our experiences.
Corinne Douglas
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This event was insightful
Educational and edifying
Also inspiring in community building
Much appreciate your time and the effort that go into making this event a success
Definitely will want more of this type of event into the near future.
Checed Israel
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Today I loved it, I came more alive as time went on. It was interesting, stimulating, energising.
I'd like a spin off from this group to meet at the library every so often.
Thanks to the library and sponsors
And thanks to Gracey who was a fantastic host - the poem at the end was amazing!
Carol Dixon
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It was inspirational and thought provoking and trips down memory lane.
Thank you so much!!
Mary
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Brilliantly inclusive
Really enjoyed audience participation
Suzan Spence
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Very enjoyable
Interactive
I would come to a similar event again.
Keep me informed.
Fiona Spence-Reid
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Very Good Presentation
Information enlightening & highlighting Windrush Generation Contribution to the fabric of UK Society communities & trends
Michael Spence
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Excellent Presentation.
Dawn Rose
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Very educational learned alot
Bun and cheese was an appreciated addition to character / culture of Jamaica.
Lots of interacting from audience which kept us on our toes or awake.
Displayed true skill with performing on the spot/last minute poem.
(Anonymous)
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Windrush 75
Very enjoyable loved that it was interactive.
Brought back memories positive and negative.
Made me reflect on past experiences and importance of passing on to younger generation lessons of the past.
Paulette
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Feedback:
The Windrush75 poetry was such a welcoming, open and humorous event. It was nice to see different people from different backgrounds attend.
Also it was local and easy access, So anyone at the library can sit and listen. Great to see more poetry events about culture.
Tamar
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A Visit from the Postcard Poets gets a 10 out of 10
On the afternoon of Friday 21st Oct 2022, Jonny Fluffypunk, Mandy Ross and Jane Seabourne appeared at Oldbury Library and much fun was had. The event was well received, with audience participation as people got up to share their own work alongside the Poetry on Loan poets.
Busy month for Sandwell
In a flurry of activity before Poetry on Loan has a pause, Sandwell libraries had two events - Spoz providing poems on demand first, and then, in West Bromwich library, a live performance by four poets - Steve Pottinger, Emma Purshouse, Aliyah Begum and Tricia green (our last competition winner). A small audience thoroughly enjoyed the range of poetry styles - and the photo is probably the funniest Poetry on Loan has ever displayed. The poets assure me that they hadn't actually had a fight just before the event!