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Title: Languaging in Hampton RoadsEpisode 18: Williamsburg Poet Laureate talks character, community and spitting barsHosts: Jill Winkowski and Prue SalaskyDate: July 18, 2025Length: 36 minutesPublication Frequency: Fourth Friday (approx) of each monthIn this episode, a follow to Ep. 6 (June 2024) we catch up with Lacroy “Atlas” Nixon, a spoken word artist, slam performer and founder of the nonprofit Slam Connection. He's the newly named inaugural poet laureate of Williamsburg, Va. In Ep. 6: Creative Community: Spoken Word in Hampton Roads, published a year ago in June 2024, we featured interviews with three of the region's spoken word performers, Tanya Cunningham, George Mendez, and Nixon to showcase the genre and the local community.Since then, Nixon has been named poet laureate for the City of Williamsburg. In this interview, (recorded on June 29, 2025, and lightly edited) we spoke to him about his new role which officially started this month. In it, he explains the process of becoming a poet laureate and says that the emphasis of his two-year post will be on engaging the area's youth. Much of his work will involve pursuing partnerships with existing organizations, such as:Slam Connection, (https://slamconnection.my.canva.site)established by Nixon in 2022, has a mission of encouraging self-expression, healthy discourse and spitting bars (a term explained in Nixon's interview), and empowering youth through spoken word poetry. It hosts open mic nights, slam contests, and writing events. It also involves a strong service component. 2. The Ampersand International Arts Festival, www.ampersandfestival.com, an annual arts festival held in Williamsburg in March, “is part of the CIty of Williamsburg's initiatives to support town and gown collaboration between the City, the College of William and Mary, Colonial Williamsburg, and partners.” 3. 2nd Sundays, Williamsburg's Art & Music Festival, https://2ndsundayswilliamsburg.com4. The Poetry Society of Virginia, https://poetrysocietyofvirginia.org; a 100-year-old nonprofit dedicated to cultivating the writing and enjoyment of poetry.5. Writers Guild of Virginia, https://www.writersguildva.com; Nixon is a board member of the nonprofit that offers classes, workshops and events for writers.In the interview, Nixon references first Friday open mic nights at Column15 Cafe and Roastery, 701 Merrimac Trail R, Williamsburg; www.column15.com; and slam competitions at the Kimball Theatre, Duke of Gloucester Street, www.colonialwilliamsburg.org.He also credits the location Bazaaro's Deli in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets, 63A 5715 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, www.bazaaros.com for hosting slam contests.He also talks about competing in Southern Fried,www.southernfriedpoetryslam.com, one of the largest spoken word and performance poetry tournaments in the world. The event is held annually in a southern US city in the first week of June. Nixon's team placed sixth in the 2025 competition in Knoxville, Tenn. Send your feedback, comments and questions to languaginghr@gmail.com. Also, check out our newly updated website, languaginghr.wordpress.com and engage with us on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks to our summer interns, Kaitlyn Asato of Christopher Newport University and Sarah Phillips of Old Dominion University, for their work on the website and social media respectively.
“Time of Your Life Episode 6 Kingston Theatre Organ Society. Ken Day finds out about the Kingston Theatre Organ Society’s 1928 Kimball Theatre pipe organ installed at the Kingston Korean Church on Kirkpatrick Street. Contact – Kingston Theatre Organ Society – KTOS.ca “
We unpack the results of the Michael Cohen hearings and other political issues with Dr. Quentin Kidd and Dr. Rachel Bitecofer of Christopher Newport University's Wason Center. Then, just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Anthony Kearns comes to the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg. He talks to Cathy about his life in song. We also check to see what's going on in Mal's World.
If you're looking for something to do this weekend, you'll want to tune in to today's show. Now in its second year, Norfolk's first dedicated gaming festival, Pixelfest, kicks off April 7! Irish tenor Anthony Kearns has a performance at the Kimball Theatre, and the 17th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival gets underway Saturday. We'll bring you event details and check in with our favorite film critic Mal Vincent. Join us at 440-2665 and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Come join the W&M Global Film Fest for our first Fall Mug Night at the Kimball Theatre this Thursday, November 12. We will be screening Wet Hot American Summer at 7:00 pm and selling custom 32oz GFF Mugs for $10 with Alewerks Brewing Company beer and unlimited refills for only $5 each at every GFF event.
Join us for our inaugural episode of W&M GFF In-Depth. This week we discuss Mug Nights at the Kimball Theatre, our Fall Launch Event double-feature, and a few films the GFF are anticipating.