Wake County Public Libraries is partnering with United Arts of Wake County and the Raleigh Fine Arts Society to celebrate the prestigious Piedmont Laureate program. This collaborative effort seeks to promote awareness and appreciation for excellence in the literary arts across the North Carolina Piedmont region.
Teen Spoken Word Night
The inaugural Teen Spoken Word Night at Oberlin Regional Library will take place from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, featuring the finalists from United Arts and Raleigh Fine Arts Society’s 2023 High School Spoken Word Competition.
The Spoken Word Competition for High School Students is the concept of spoken word poet and the 2023 Piedmont Laureate Dasan Ahanu. Students from public, private and home schools in Wake, Orange and Durham counties were invited to submit a video of themselves performing their own original poetry. In 2023, 83 students from 21 schools submitted videos of their original work.
The evening will also feature a panel discussion for aspiring spoken word artists. Registration is requested.
Events with 2024 Piedmont Laureate, Steven Petrow
The 2024 Piedmont Laureate highlights creative nonfiction, with Steven Petrow selected as this year’s laureate. An award-winning journalist and book author, Petrow is best known for his essays in The Washington Post and The New York Times on aging, civility and health.
He also writes an opinion column for USA Today on civil discourse, with his article "3 Ways to Practice Civility" garnering over 2 million views and being translated into 16 languages. Petrow's latest book, “The Joy You Make,” is a guide to finding joy even during life’s most difficult times.
Wake County Public Libraries is excited to host the following events featuring Steven Petrow:
Read Local Program
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 2:30 p.m.
Cary Regional Library (outdoors, in the park adjacent to the library)
Petrow will read from and discuss his newly released book “The Joy You Make: Find the Silver Linings – Even on Your Darkest Days.” This reading is part of the Read Local Celebration, which takes place from 1-6 p.m. at the Downtown Cary Park Meeting place adjacent to the Cary Regional Library.
What You Can Do to Reclaim Civility in American Life
Wednesday, Oct. 23| 6:30 p.m.
Virtual
Petrow will be joined by five experts, including Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and cohost of the “Awesome Etiquette” podcast. The panel will discuss how to overcome the polarization, isolation and loneliness that is fueling the current crisis of civility.
Oberlin Writers’ Group: Finding Joy with Steven Petrow
Nov. 17 | 2 p.m.
Oberlin Regional Library
How do you find joy in your life? What challenges do you face in your search? Petrow will join us in exploring this theme. Registration is requested.
