The Veterans’ Community Open Mic has become a longstanding Tampa tradition for those who have served in the military and for the community. They come together for the arts and use it as a platform to discuss topics that might not be as comfortable with another audience.
What it’s not is hours of discussion about the woes of the veterans. It is poetry, music and a coming together to help reintegrate veterans with their community. The open mic event is held quarterly at the Straz Center. This year, it took place Oct. 3 on The Straz Center’s Riverwalk Tent.
“It’s really an honor to have it at The Straz because it helps us expand our support for veterans,” said Fred Johnson, a former Marine who serves at an artist in residence for The Straz. “It’s a great evening of spoken word, poetry and music.”
Emcee Jessica Coulter, whose artistic name is J9, agrees.
“A lot of the time, veterans might be a little older and you get topics you wouldn’t discuss at any other poetry open mic,” she said. “It is very, very inclusive. You name it, we’ve had comedians, a veteran with severe traumatic brain injury who read poetry, drummers and singers.”
One of the things that sets this event apart, she said, is that most have in one way or another, had “the veteran experience, so you don’t have to explain it.”
Even local poets from the community at large choose to come and support the event. “It really brings together that community interaction in an artistic format,” Coulter said.
“We had one that touched my heart, a gentleman receiving treatment at James Haley (VA Hospital) for a spinal cord injury. His poems were only one page and it was tough for him to get up and read them, but he did. One was about his love of triumph and another about a flower. It’s a big misconception that they are all about the struggles. We’ve had interpretive dance and we’ve had people make their own instruments and play them.”
The event’s main sponsor is Art2Action, Inc., a nonprofit that “develops, produces and presents original theater, interdisciplinary performances, performative acts and progressive cultural organizing.” It supports not only veterans, but women artists, artists of color, queer and trans-identified artists and their creative allies.
The Straz and Paint 22 partnered with Art2Action for this event. Paint 22 raises funds to promote an initiative for those who have served in the U.S. Military. They bring awareness to the fact that the suicide rate for military personnel is roughly 22 people per day.
Johnson called Paint 22 and the Art2Action organizations “amazing veterans initiatives” The Straz has worked with on numerous occasions to serve the veteran community.
“We’ve been involved in it for the last couple of years in direct cooperation with the veteran community, about the importance of artistic expression and personal empowerment,” Johnson said. “The veterans are very excited about it.”
The event really integrates the veterans with the community, Coulter said. “That is very important for the veteran community, to reintegrate back into the civilian world and the artistic and creative world.” Coulter, herself, served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force. One of its monikers she said, is One Team, One Fight.
The open mic has become a tradition since it started in Tampa in 2013, Johnson said. “It has created an opportunity to give voice the veteran community. They know it is a safe space to come.”
Johnson kicked off the open mic night by performing a West African tradition of oral narrative. “I’m a vocalist, a jazz musician and also a storyteller and spontaneous creator.” Johnson served in the Marine Corps from 1969 to 1977.