BPL Partners to Host The Flourish Poetry Camp Beginning July 13

The Birmingham Public Library is partnering with a nonprofit organization to host a three-day virtual poetry camp beginning Monday, July 13.

The Flourish Summer Poetry Camp will take place via Zoom video conferencing from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on July 13, July 15 and July 17. BPL is partnering with The Flourish Alabama, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting the seeds to help young artists bloom.

The Flourish creates and facilitates “multi-medium” programming and curriculum geared towards helping youth create collaborative art projects.  The Flourish facilitates art workshops for artists of all ages, creates and host events that showcase artists of color.

 The Flourish Summer Poetry Camp is a 3-Day Virtual Camp designed to allow young creative artists to:

 • produce and showcase creative writing skills
 • engage in historical research
 • build self-confidence.

For Zoom information, participants are asked to contact Gelenda Norman at Gelenda.Norman@cobpl.org.

The Flourish divides its organization into two wings: outreach and events. The outreach wing focuses on aiding the youth of Birmingham and surrounding areas. The outreach programs range from in-school programming to one-time workshops.

Created by Jahman Hill and Eric Marable Jr., The Flourish’s events programming provides young artists an opportunity to showcase their work, as well as coordinates opportunities for Birmingham youth to showcase their work via “Flourish Fests.”

Hill is a veteran performer of BPL’s Bards & Brews and a past winner of its Poetry Slam. Check out Hill on Facebook.

 Eric Marable Jr., also a past participant of Bards & Brews, is a teaching artist at Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative. Check Marable out on Facebook

 Beyond live performances, the Flourish events wing looks to find ways to use social media to bring artist communities together with an emphasis on collaboration.