100 Thousand Poets for Change in Healdsburg Sept. 27

In March 2011, Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion of Guerneville put out a challenge – they asked poets, musicians and artists around the globe to join them on one day in a celebration and demonstration to promote peace and sustainability, and call for serious social, environmental and political change.
They had no idea what they were tapping into.
In this, the fourth year of 100 Thousand Poets for Change, which will take place on Sept. 27, over 700 events are scheduled, in 100 countries. They range from poetry readings to house concerts, dance performances to group meditations.
Rothenberg said, “Today I got a letter from a woman in Kuwait. It’s not like the U.S., where we can do what we want. She got permission, and was extremely excited. The newspaper and the Minister of Culture have contacted her. She said, ‘The whole country is getting involved.’”
Rothenberg and Carrion are both poets. Rothenberg is the editor of Big Bridge Press, and Carrion is the associate editor and visual designer of the press. Now, however, they spend a good deal of their time as the organizers of 100 Thousand Poets for Change.
In this past year, Rothenberg and Carrion went to Italy, Morocco and Macedonia to meet other organizers. “I was stunned by the level of commitment on their part,” he said. Morocco had three events last year; this year, they have fifteen.
“People have a tradition around the world that poets and artists are cultural heroes,” Rothenberg said. In Macedonia, the duo was in a taxi cab, and the driver asked Carrion about her profession. Rothenberg said, “When she said she was a poet, he threw his hands up in the air with respect, ‘Ah, a poet!’”
“We knew the world was suffering,” he said. “Maybe people are looking for a platform, an avenue through which to communicate. What can we do with our creative energy, to manifest a better world for people?”
Part of 100 Thousand Poets for Change’s success is that they have asked each group to document their efforts, through photographs or video. And then all of that is live-streamed via the website, and archived on the site’s blog. They also set up a collection of posters from events around the world. Rothenberg said he currently has over 700 posters in their online archive, “and they are gorgeous.”
Sonoma County is ready to celebrate. Penelope La Montagne, who is coordinating her second 100 Thousand Poets event in Healdsburg, said, “I feel this is an opportunity for local people to feel connected to a larger cause, for their voices and intentions to be woven into a global intention for change. Whether there are six people gathering, or 4,000 people gathering, your intention creates an energy, and that has its own vigor that moves forth into the world – especially when it is a spoken intention.”
La Montagne noted that the witnesses, those who come just to listen, are as important as those who speak.
In Healdsburg on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7-9 p.m., the 100 Thousand Poets for Change event takes place at 109 Mill Street. Guest poets include Gervacio Peña, Arte Whyte, Maria Celeste Flores, Gail King, Penelope La Montagne, Karl Frederick, Bob Jones and Cynthia Helen Beecher. There will also be an open mic. This event is presented in conjunction with the Healdsburg Center for the Arts.
For general information, including a map which shows all of the events across the globe, go to the website at www.100TPC.org.