HarborTides

Posted in: News on 4/23/09 at 1:50 PM PST

Media Credit: Yvette Perez Here's Sacred Grounds, the coffee shop that has hosted the poetry slam for the last seven years.

The Sacred Grounds Coffee House in San Pedro has been opening its doors to Los Angeles Harbor College students, parents and siblings of students, South Bay locals, and aspiring poets for the past seven years. The event is hosted by the English Department.

LAHC English teacher Pamela Watkins attended a poetry reading in a Pennsylvania town one night and her experience there inspired her to re-create the ambiance of the moment for the Harbor area.

"I wanted to show students campus life is fun on and off campus," Watkins said. "Gatherings like this are good for the community, the college and the student."

Since moving to its new location next to the Warner Grand Theatre on 6th St., Sacred Grounds has seen attendance for the Poetry Slam soar. The next event is Tuesday (April 28) at 7:15 p.m.

"There's a hunger to be connected," LAHC English teacher Susan McMurray said. McMurray has acted as master of ceremonies for all but two of the Poetry Slams seven years.

LAHC English teacher Jean Grooms was handed the reins to the Poetry Slam by Watkins last year. Since taking over Grooms has seen gatherings at the Poetry Slam become too large for Sacred Grounds.

Grooms had to make a decision to stay with the coffee house or move to another location.

"They've been so supportive from the get go," Grooms said. "Many establishments balk at college kids storming into a place of business. We've never had a problem at Sacred Grounds."

Rather than move to a now home base for the event, LAHC and Sacred Grounds added another day to the venue. The Poetry Slam will be held on two consecutive Tuesdays.

The event is language limited. Anyone may read either an original poem(s) or one from their favorite poet.

"It's an opportunity to acknowledge talent," Grooms said. "Everyone has their own song."

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