Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour: CAPSTONE CELEBRATION

The Ohio Poetry Association and Poets Against Racism & Hate USA (PARH USA) will partner with the Ohio History Connection to present a very special celebration of Ohio’s role in the Underground Railroad. The Capstone Celebration will be the culminating event of the Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour, held at various locations throughout Ohio this year.
The Capstone Celebration will feature live poetry readings, music and dance, film, and a special panel discussion featuring local historians. Representatives from various whistle-stop sites will have exhibit tables to interact with visitors and tell them more about some of Ohio’s important Underground Railroad sites and educational resources.

The special event is free. Registration is encouraged and appreciated. The deadline to register is 7 PM EDT December 6.

AGENDA

Exhibit tables and all programs run 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Scheduled Programs

• 11:00–11:30 - Welcome, Opening Remarks from Chuck Salmons (OPA) and Debbie Allen (PARH USA); poetry readings by William John Booth, Jr. and Kellie N. Kirksey

• 11:30–12:00 - Performance by Urban Strings

• 12:00–12:30 - Poetry readings by Huntor Prey and Sidney Jones, Jr.

• 12:30–1:15 - Lunch break

• 1:30–2:30 - Keynote panel: Period music; role of free black communities & churches. Panelists: Dr. Andrew Feight (Shawnee State Univ.), Dr. Andy Carlson with Sabrina Evans-Renkar (Capital Univ.), and Dr. Ted McDaniel (The Ohio State Univ.)

• 2:30–2:45 - Capital University student documentary film on composer Joshua McCarter Simpson of Zanesville, presented by students Aaliyah Bolden, Johansel Figueroa, Jaydn Grant, Isabelle Hanning, Albert Kargbo, Rhema Johnson, Beverly Kinateder, Ella Riedlinger, Chelsea Steinmetz, Jesse Stevens, Stephen Taylor, & Wesley Triplett

• 3:00–3:30 - Performance by Brother(hood) Dance

• 3:30–4:30 - Poetry readings by Rose Smith, Lynette Ford, Siaara Freeman, MoPoetry Phillips

• 4:30–5:00 - Closing remarks from Lyn Logan Grimes (Ohio History Connection), Debbie Allen, & Chuck Salmons; reading of community poem

Acknowledgement of Financial Support

The Ohio Poetry Association and Poets Against Racism & Hate USA are grateful to the following agencies for their financial support of the Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour:

America 250-Ohio Commission

Ohio Arts Council

Ohio History Connection

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Ohio History Center, 800 East 17th Avenue, Columbus, United States