Sharon Eiker, founder of the Jump Start Art Foundation, is an Artist, Poet, Singer, and Songwriter. While Sharon loves creating Art her passion is creating space for our community to share their Art with each other. Sharon was part of The Writer’s Place while it was still an idea and a dream among several Kansas City poets. She served on its board for more than 20 years and continues to host its monthly open mic. She also hosts the Uptown Arts Bar Blue Monday open mic.
Poet Jen Harris is a Kansas City-based Spoken Word Poet, Women's Rights and LGBT activist, published author, founder and host of KC Poetry Slam. Harris graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas. She is the recipient of the 2015 UMKC Jim Wanser Pride Award for outstanding LGBT community activism in Kansas City. Additionally, she is the recipient of the 2014-2016 Pitch Magazine Top 3 Poets in Kansas City award, and the 2009 ACP Kansas Journalist of the Year. Her first book of poetry, Slammed, was released via Spartan Press in 2016. She is currently finalizing her second book of poetry, Me Too, which will include a 60-minute, one-woman spoken word show, Woman of Her Words, to be completed at her 2016-2017 writing residency at the Charlotte Street Foundation.
This event features music by Gib Shell.