[Archived] Poetry and Tea Fundraiser to Aid Project Discovery

Poetry and tea are on the menu at the annual fundraiser for Project Discovery scheduled for Saturday, November 10 at 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria.

The featured speakers will be Donna Britt, Washington Post columnist and author of Brothers (& Me): A Memoir of Loving and Giving; Joe Gorham, host of the Spoken Word at Joe’s Place on WHUR-FM; Shelly Bell, also known as She Seven, poet; and Sheryl Robertson, poet.

Guest author Donna Britt is part of a new generation of African-American journalists who write frankly, thoughtfully, and from personal experience about much more than America’s racial divisions. In articles for The Washington Post, Politics Daily, The Root, Sojourners and other publications, she has explored everything from testosterone to Liberalism to her popular Valentine to Black Men.

Joe Gorham, who has been on the air at WHUR-FM for 37 years, can currently be heard on Spoken Word at Joe’s Place airing from midnight to 1 a.m.

Shelly Bell, poetically known as “She Seven,” is an author and poet from North Carolina. A former T.C. Williams High School teacher, she has been writing since the age of 12 and began appearing on the spoken word scene in November 2009. Since then she has been featured at Indulj Restaurant, Bus Boys and Poets, and performed at DC's largest recurring spoken word event "The @ttic."

Sheryl Robertson, a Christian spoken word artist who performs at various church, community, and charity events, is the author of Sheryl’s Pearls, a blog on life, love and faith. She works as a communications specialist and speechwriter in the federal government.

Additionally, some T.C. Williams Project Discovery students will share some of their creative work.

Donations are welcome at the event or can be mailed to the Office of Youth Services, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301. Make checks or money orders payable to Project Discovery Alexandria. All donations are tax deductible. Donations of $500 or more should be made by November 1 to ensure inclusion in the Annual Special Recognition Legacy Program. For more information, contact Ron Frazier, Director of the Office of Youth Services, 703.746.5967 or ron.frazier@alexandriava.gov .

Since 1985, Project Discovery–Alexandria has helped students become the first members of their families to attend college or technical school. Through workshops, trips to colleges and enriching experiences, students learn how to achieve educational goals, select a college, manage time, improve study skills, and apply for financial aid.