Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 099-04
April 28, 2004

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER KATE D. LEVIN, SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR JOEL I. KLEIN AND CUNY CHANCELLOR MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN ANNOUNCE SECOND ANNUAL POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY

New Yorkers Encouraged to Carry Poems in Their Pockets on Friday, April 30th Initiative to Promote Poetry and Literacy in Schools and at Events Throughout NYC

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and City University of New York Chancellor Matthew Goldstein today announced that Friday, April 30, 2004 will mark the second annual Poem in Your Pocket Day.  The initiative is aimed at promoting poetry and literacy at schools, libraries and cultural organizations throughout the five boroughs. 

"Poem in Your Pocket Day offers all New Yorkers a unique way to celebrate and reflect on the beauty and power of language," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We are proud to launch an initiative that celebrates literacy and poetry, and the meaningful role they play in all of our lives.  I'll be carrying a poem on April 30, and I encourage all New Yorkers to do the same."

On Poem in Your Pocket Day, New Yorkers are encouraged to carry a poem in their pocket and share it with friends, family, co-workers and classmates.  The New York Times is running announcements featuring works of poetry that can be clipped and saved, and throughout this week, WNYC Radio is playing public service announcements promoting the initiative. 

Public schools throughout all five boroughs will highlight poetry through readings by professional poets, poetry workshops and specifically designed lesson plans.  Cultural organizations and libraries throughout the City have planned events leading up to and on Poem in Your Pocket Day, from readings to poetry discussions to open mic forums.

A sample of events include:

  • The Museum of Modern Art is offering free admission to any visitor who brings a poem on Friday, April 30. MoMA QNS is open from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Poem in Your Pocket Day.

  • Meet Award-Winning Children's Illustrator Javaka Steptoe at the Far Rockaway Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library. At 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, children ages 5-12 will meet the illustrator of In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African-Americans Celebrating Fathers, a child's poetry book. Steptoe will explain how he creates his illustrations.

  • The Megaquasisemifinal phase of the Urbana Poetry Slam features the top eight ranked poets of the season who will battle it out metaphorically at the Bowery Poetry Club on Thursday, April 29 to see who will garner the coveted four spots left in next week's Final Slam. The battle begins at 7:15 p.m.

  • Celebrated poets Elaine Equi, Robert Hershon and Quincy Troupe, California's first Poet Laureate, conduct a reading of their original work on Thursday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in Brooklyn's Central Library.

A listing of Poem in Your Pocket Day and National Poetry Month events, along with poems for download and use on Poem in Your Pocket Day, are available at www.nyc.gov. Poem in Your Pocket Day event listings and sample poems can also be obtained by calling 311.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler/Robert Lawson   (212) 788-2958

Sara Rutkowski   (DCA)
(212) 643-6690




More Resources