Inside Out: Poems and Music from Prison

Caffe Lena has a very exciting fundraiser for the Mt. McGregor Organ and Arts Fund coming up this Wednesday hosted by Cara Benson and Gordon Boyd featuring former students of the program and Randall Horton. Proceeds to benefit the weekly poetry class and other arts programming at Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility.

Here is some more information from the organizers:

This is the second annual fundraiser for the Mt. McGregor Organ and Arts Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region. Co-Hosted by volunteer Gordon Boyd and poet Cara Benson, the evening will feature readings from former students Mel Williams and Seán Dalpiaz and nationally known poet Randall Horton, performances of poems and music created inside, and a panel discussion on the role of the arts inside and the urgent need for further programming on both sides of the wall. How can those in positions of privilege be of service in truly empowering ways? This will likely raise more questions than answers.

Suggested donation: $15 (no one turned away). Reservations advised: 518-583-0022.

About the author: Thom Francis

Thom Francis has been organizing, promoting, and hosting open mics and poetry / spoken word events in Albany such as Nitty Gritty Slam, School of Night, Albany Poets Presents..., and the Albany Word Fest for over 20 years. As a poet and performer, Thom has been featured at many of the upstate poetry and spoken word events from Saratoga to Woodstock as well as LarkFest, Art on Lark, 1st Friday, and the Albany Word Fest.