Left Turn Village will host its 3rd Annual Freedom Rhymers Mental Health Poetry Event on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Metuchen, NJ, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event spotlights five local poets in a competitive spoken word showcase, followed by an open mic segment in an effort to confront and dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health.
Left Turn Village hosted its second annual Freedom Rhymer mental health edition poetry contest and open mic event with more than fifty people in attendance.
Left Turn Village is hosting its second annual "Freedom Rhymer" Mental Health Poetry Contest and Open Mic event on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM EDT at Suite Metuchen in Downtown Metuchen, NJ. Through the power of poetry, this event aims to help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health.
On June 15, Left Turn Village debuted its Freedom Rhymers Poetry Contest and Open Mic, sponsored in part by Creatifshere, just in time for Juneteenth. Jamai Wray (Jamaica, NY), Dralanda Larkins (Minneapolis, MN), RJ Gourdine (Newark, NJ), Nathan Wallace (Atlanta, GA), and Christian Contreras (Huntsville, AL) competed. Larkins won first place, Wallace won second, and Contreras placed third.
Left Turn Village is launching its inaugural Freedom Rhymers Poetry Contest & Open Mic. The new initiative is set to debut in time for Juneteenth and will be held via Zoom on Thursday, Jun 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM (EST). Space is limited to five poets. First, 2nd, and 3rd prizes are $100, $50, and $25 respectively. General admission tickets are $3. Tickets to enter as a contestant are $5.
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