I’d like to give a shout out to Ms. Tara Bracco, a friend of many Crucial Minutists. (Though that’s not really a word, and it looks kind of like “Menudo.” Maybe we need a different term for ourselves.)

Tara’s the founder and producer of Poetic People Power, an annual poetry event that combines poetry and activism. Last night was the project’s fifth event. Tara always offers a great variety of poets and styles: from the hilariously theatrical and brief Sugar Johnson to the long-form lyricism of Pamela Sneed.

The cool thing about this project is that Tara commissions a new poem from each writer, each year on a different subject. This year it was universal health care. You’d think those poems might be awfully dry, but they were eloquent and moving. Each poet reads their commissioned piece, and another original poem that represents their style. The result is a delicious sampling that addresses one issue, but weaves in the poets’ other passions as well.

Another thing I dig: Tara always provides a “Stay Active!” section in the program, which offers several organizations doing concrete work to make a difference.

I overheard Kimmi talking with several other audience members after the show. They were saying how refreshing it was to listen to people speak out passionately about an issue, without being embarrassed or ironic.

I wish those crotchety critics of young people could see projects like Tara’s. They might think twice before accusing us of apathy.