Miramar, FL – The City of Miramar proudly presents The Poets Place, an evening of poetry, music and song, in the Banquet Hall at the Miramar Cultural Center/ArtsPark on Sunday, July 19th at 8 p.m. Adult Content Featured. Admission is free. 

There will be performances by well-known poets Sonia Mannings, Deborah Magadalena Asia and Analogy along with the Live Poets Society Band.

Sonia Mannings, well-known throughout South Florida and the first female poet for Miami’s Live Poet Society, will perform pieces from her two CDs: the debut CD Unrequited Love and her latest Truth About Love. Her credentials include performing at the historical Overtown Lyric Theater and at the monthly poetry event, Soul Sessions in downtown Hollywood. Most recently, she formed SoulStar Productions that promotes local artists, writers and musicians.

Puerto Rican-born actress/poet Deborah Magdalena, a veteran performer of TV and film, including Sesame Street, Apollo Comedy Hour, Suns of Thunder, Striptease and For Love of Country, will be performing pieces from her New CD “Deborah LIVE” and is launching a one-hour bilingual variety show Todo Urbano con Deborah Magdalena.

Asia won first place in the 2008 Southern Fried Poetry Slam champion along with his team MinoriTEAM and was featured in both the Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Poetry and on the Black Family Channel’s Spoken.

Analogy made his debut in South Florida’s Bohemia Room in 2007. Since then he has performed at South Florida’s Literary Café, Love Mecca in Atlanta and AXA Presents Spoken word in Anguilla, BWI. He performed in Slam Competitions, at Anguilla’s Carnival and has two CDs, all of which have collectively enabled him to become an open mike veteran.

Get your vouchers now (exchangeable for two free tickets, while supplies last) at the Miramar Cultural Center Box Office, Miramar City Hall, Miramar Multi Purpose Center and other locations throughout Miramar. Seating is limited. First come, first served.

The Box Office is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and three hours prior to Showtime at 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL  33025 on Red Road, north of Miramar Parkway. Call 954-602-4500 or visit www.MiramarCulturalCenter.org for more information.

The Miramar Cultural Center/ArtsPark, in partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, is a collaborative effort of many who share a fundamental commitment to the arts as essential to building a strong and vibrant community. The project is funded in part by Broward County through the Broward County Board of Commissioners with proceeds from 2000 Safe Parks & Land Preservation Bond. The Center also acknowledges the support of the State of Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2008

Questions or Comments contact:

Ph: 866-552-2211

Email: [email protected]

READ THE OPEN LETTER WRITTEN TO CNN BY BEST SELLING AUTHOR AND POET, TERRY A O’NEAL.

FROM THE DESK OF

Best Selling Author

TERRY A O’NEAL

November 5, 2008

Re: Barack Obama, Our President, Our Hero

Dear CNN,

We as American’s, we as African Americans have crawled a long, long way to get to where we are today. Obama’s Presidency was a dream deferred that finally came true. My hopes are that young people around the world will utilize this triumph to grow to their greatest potential and give back to all who have fought, shedding blood and tears to pave the way to provide them with a better life than the unforgotten struggles endured by our ancestors. My wish is that they will have the confidence and know that there is absolutely no limitation to what they can achieve; that the journey will not be easy but they mustn’t give up, they must stand and ride the lofty road ahead.

My dream is that the older people in America will work that much harder to create greater change, leading by example through lending their hearts, hands, and time in the schools, youth organizations, and in their communities. As cliché as it may sound to some, children are our future; and like the ancient African proverb quotes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Today, it’s going to take the entire Nation to nurture the younger generation.

Over our lifetime, we have heard the dreams of many great African American voices such as Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, and many more. On the evening of November 4, 2008, I fell to my knees in tears and gave thanks to all those who have revealed to us a vision of what it means to overcome and achieve the American dream. Now we are left with this question, what have I done to make a difference?

Congratulations to Obama, his family and all of America for making history.

Terry a O’Neal,

Best Selling Author and Poet

Northern California

[email protected]