Op-Ed Slam slated for March 6

Whether you want to deliver your own opinions or hear some of Minnesota’s sharpest talkers hold forth, the place to be is at the Twin Cities Fourth Annual Op-Ed Slam at Kieran’s Irish Pub, Tuesday, March 6. Op-Ed Slam 2001 promises another exciting, high-energy evening as local celebrities and fine orators speak

their minds on a wide range of topics.

Co-sponsored by the Twin Cities Local of the National Writer’s Union, SASE: The Write Place, The Loft, and the Star Tribune, the Op-Ed Slam brings out speakers with a cause and a hefty point of view, impassioned orators in search of a soapbox, clever ranters, and over-the-top ravers. The events of the last two years filled Kieran’s in downtown Minneapolis.

Up to 25 slammers will get to deliver a two-minute first-round live and uncensored diatribe on the topic of their choice. First- and second-round winners will move on to longer times, and a panel of local media experts will award prizes to the top three contestants.

This year’s emcees are SASE director and local writer Carolyn Holbrook and NWU’s local coordinator and writer Rob Ramer. Celebrity slammers include community activist Ricardo Levins Morales, dancer and performer Patrick Scully, performer and curator Leigh Combs, writer and performer Mankwe Ndosi, writer and professor Mahmoud El-Kati, and local diva, Miss Richfield.

Judges will include last year’s slam winner Thadra Sheridan, local journalist Tam Phan, Star Tribune Opinions editor Eric Ringham, and the publisher of Insight News, Batala McFarlane.

This is your chance to stand up and be heard – or if you prefer, to sit back and cheer for your favorite slammer. Admission is $6 ($3 for members of sponsoring organizations). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the Slam begins at 8 p.m. Interested slammers should come early to sign up. Kieran’s Pub is at 330 Second Avenue South in Minneapolis. For further information, call Susan Raffo, 612-729-3412.

For more information about sponsoring organizations:

The National Writers Union, http://www.nwu.org

SASE: The Write Place, http://www.mtn.org/sase

The Loft, http://www.loft.org