One hundred readers from around the country were invited to attend the first White House Poetry Slam, a cultural event that includes poet Mayda Del Valle, novelist Michael Chabon (pictured), playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, and a speech by President Barack Obama.
Scheduled for this evening, the event will also feature actor James Earl Jones and two jazz musicians. According to KTAR.com, the First Family is fulfilling a promise to support the arts during Obama’s tenure.
The article quotes Arizona lawmaker Kyrsten Sinema about her excitement for the event: “[Sinema] quotes the White House contact as saying, ‘We’re looking for people who are hip, young and cool. And, I said, ‘uh, huh, how did I get picked?’ I didn’t sound very hip and cool on the phone. I sounded like a 12-year-old girl. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.'” (Photo via; link via Isak)