Thank you to McDonald's owner, Mary Hopkins-Navies, Chantell & Jose and all the staff that helped things run so smoothly. Thanks also to our sponsors and book donors: Books International Goodwill (BIG), Leon Durham and Kevin Hicks of Annie's Art Gallery, The Oxon Hill Library, The Camp Springs Civic Association (thanks for the books and the drinks!),

Thanks also to the HHOPE seniors group of Harmony Hall (thanks for the cake!), MNCPPC (for techinical/audio support), former Washington Redskin Joe Johnson (thanks for reading on our Open Mic and for the rap session with our young men!) Rashaad Alford (thanks for helping take photos) Charles Berrin International Group, Martha Ruff of The Oxon Hill Library, Lawrence Shavers, my fellow poets Pat Smith, Beverly Taylor, Brenardo of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, also of Ebenezer, Sis. Donna Davis and nephews, Damitri and Darrel and Mr. Nathaniel Clayor. 

Thanks to County Council candidate Betty Horton-Hodge, Denise Johnson (representing Councilman Tony Knotts), and all who read on the open mic and all the adults who encouraged the youth to read.  Thanks again to Ja'nice for the fun face-painting.  Thank you to all who donated our gifts and prize give-aways.  From our guest list of Open Mic readers and book lovers: Shawnte, Razz, Montri, Zamira, Zarin, Bella, Evelyn and all the crew who chose not to sign in, we thank you for helping all the fun to happen!

Remember that we get together to promote literacy and celebrate National Poetry Month EVERY APRIL, reading poetry, giving away free books (...probably over 200 this time!) and having a fun-filled reading party bringing the community together one book, one child, one reader, one poet at a time.

Please remember that our annual community reading party is an international event.  As referenced above, my partner in presenting this National Poetry Month celebration is Ja'nice Wisdom, founder and CEO of Read Across Jamaica.  Thanks to the generosity of book donors in our community, we will be donating several boxes of books to schools in Jamaica that are very much in need.  Thank you to each book donor that helped make this possible.  To find out more about Read Across Jamaica, and how you can support their literacy building efforts visit their website at www.readacrossja.com.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing poetry again soon!  In the meanwhile, to be part of or find out about next year's Community Reading Party and other free poetry events throughout the year, just drop me a note. I'm a full time poet and poetry is what I do! Much love to all, and remember, ... keep READING AND WRITING! Just look and see how much fun words and poetry can be!

I'll be posting photos soon... :)