Open Mic, Featured Poet and a preliminary slam in our series to select a representative for the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships in Charlotte, NC in Dec ‘08. One Prelim will take place each month thru the summer with the finals in September.

NYC-born Roberto Ascalon is a poet, writer, arts educator, and spoken-word performance artist who lives in the historic Youngstown/Cooper School in West Seattle. Roberto uses his love for the craft of poetry to transform the world that surrounds him. He connects with audiences via universal narratives that encompass topics like racism, first kisses, love, family, and Spam. He has taught at Nova High School and participated in Seattle Arts and Lectures Writers-in-the Schools program.

Roberto currently works as a teaching artist and mentor for Arts Corps, Youth Speaks Seattle, and the Service Board. His writing appeared in the National Poetry Slam Anthology 2003 and has traveled across Seattle with “Poetry on Buses 2004.” He was a top runner-up for Seattle’s Poet Populist 2007. Roberto has twice been commissioned by Frye Art Museum and is currently curating a poetry series for Seattle Art Museum.