Lyrical Sanctuary, UWM’s open mic, celebrates its 20th anniversary this semester! 

Lyrical Sanctuary is UWM’s monthly open mic night, featuring a standout spoken word artist, live music and art, and YOU! It is a campus tradition that brings students and community members together to share their passion for poetry and creative self-expression. Prior to each performance, the monthly featured artist leads a creative writing workshop open to anyone willing to put their pen to the page.   

We’re kicking off the celebration with two important members of the Lyrical Community, Derrick Harriell and Mikey Cody Apollo!

Derrick Harriell is the Otillie Schillig Associate Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Mississippi. His poem collections are Cotton (Aquarius Press- Willow Books 2010), Ropes (Aquarius Press- Willow Books 2013- winner of the 2014 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Poetry Book Award), and Stripper in Wonderland (LSU Press 2017). 

Mikey (pronounced my-key) Murry, also known as Mikey Cody Apollo, is a Black queer writer, filmmaker, educator, and feminist killjoy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Most of their work explores themes such as race, gender, sex, and religion. Mikey is the author of the self-published collection of poetry titled Black Girls, Silence, and Other Things Made of Gold, which has been used in classrooms, workshops, and book clubs across the United States. Mikey resided with her partner and favorite photographer, Mahdi Atif, and their two fur babies, Mercury and Ruby on Milwaukee’s Eastside.

When Mikey grows up, she wants to be the first Black woman to receive the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

7-7:45 pm | Writing Workshop hosted by Derrick Harriell| Inclusive Excellence Center

8-10 pm |Open Mic and Feature Performance | Fireside Lounge 

For more information, or to request accommodations, please contact sociocul@uwm.edu.   

Sponsored by Sociocultural Programming.