Daly City – Multilingual, multicultural, multigenerational Daly City plans to celebrate National Poetry Month with as much verve and diversity as the community it serves. Sponsored by the Daly City Parks and Recreation Department, two events in April will mark the second year of local participation in this program, which was originally established nationwide in 1996 to rally Americans to appreciate contemporary poetry.

On Monday, April 18, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., a multigenerational “Tula/Poetry Open Mic” gathering will be held at Lincoln Community Center. Performances in English, Tagalog and other dialects are being solicited for the free-for-all program. Participants must pre-register prior to the event.

The poetry potpourri is being offered by the Pilipino Youth Coalition - San Mateo County, San Francisco State University’s Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor, Skyline College’s Kababayan Program and Filipino Student Union, the Filipino American Senior Association (FASA) and other community members. Co-hosting the program with DCPRD are Daly City ACCESS, Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, Pilipino Youth Coalition – San Mateo County and FASA.

Lincoln Community Center is located at 901 Brunswick Street and Acton Street. It is easily accessible by public transportation (SamTrans bus route 120 and 121). To pre-register, and for more information about the April 18th event, contact PBRC at (650) 992-9110, or Daly City’s Recreation Program Coordinator at (650) 991-8075.

On Saturday, April 23rd, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., creative “Poetic Voices” will be heard at Serramonte Library located on 40 Wembly Drive. From haiku to free verse, self-professed poets are invited to display their prolific writing skills “in a relaxed, supportive setting.” A motivational writing coach will be in attendance to set the tone for the creative process to occur.

“An open mike is reserved for the final hour of the program to allow participants to share their work with the audience,” noted Leslie Peay-Heckman, event coordinator. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Pre-registration is required. The $3 entry fee includes refreshments. Call (650) 991-8190, email lpeayheckman@dalycity.org, or mail checks (payable to “City of Daly City – DCPR Poetry Event”) to DCPR, 111 Lake Merced Blvd., Room 9, Daly City, CA 94015.

The National Poetry Month was first established by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Its primary purpose is to “increase the visibility, presence and accessibility of poetry in American culture,” according to the Academy. For more information, visit www.poets.org