A Place to Let Your Voice Rise: Reciting Maya Angelou at UWM

The Union Sociocultural organization used the Lyrical Sanctuary event as a memoriam for Maya Angelou at the Union Fireside Lounge this past Wednesday night.

Lyrical sanctuary is for anyone who wants to speak their voice and also a place just to sit and listen and enjoy. The memoriam for Maya Angelou took place at 8 p.m. on Dec. 10. Preceding the show, a workshop was offered to the performers an hour before to practice their pieces.

One person who took the stage says she has gained a lot by attending and being a part of this social event. “We need to be supportive of each other. We need to keep our voices raised,” said Cheryl “Cyndaar” Banks, who has also been part of other women celebrating activities.

At the Lyrical Sanctuary, she shared a poem written my Maya Angelou called Phenomenal Woman and also shared her story about being able to relate with Angelou on a more substantial level because they both would not speak in school at an early age.

Banks was introduced to the Lyrical Sanctuary through a friend who is also involved in the event and also heard about it because she is a student at UWM. She enjoys listening to the other performers and how everyone is accepted.

There were a few people who seemed to have performed at many of the events and there were also a handful who admitted that it was there first time speaking at the mic. The environment is very up beat and supportive to everyone who wanted to speak their voice. Whether they are story tellers, writers, poets, spoken word artists, or vocal musicians, they feel they have total support from the people around them.

Spoken Word Artist and Facilitator Mikey Murry, who has been helping run the social cultural organization at UWM for a couple months, says that while the Lyrical Sanctuary may be the biggest event that they arrange, they also hold many more activities that promote an environment that all people can feel secure and welcome in.

“Basically we do anything that is in regards of promoting being inclusive and respecting everyone’s backgrounds, whether they are of different religion, if they’re a different race, or if they are of a different ability. Everyone is welcome and equal,” says Murry.

And what might encourage someone to be part of this type of organization? “I heard it was all about art, promoting diversity, and everyone being together. So, it was everything I stood for so I took a chance and I applied,” Murry explained. She also recited a poem by Angelou called Caged Bird.

The social cultural organization has been doing the Lyrical Sanctuary events for 12 years now.  The events are free for performers and audience and all people are welcome. Many poems are very touching while others are joyful songs fro the soul.