Introducing Oompa - WordStock 2017 Guest

We are thrilled to have Oompa share her amazing talents with Minot State and the community during NOTSTOCK 2017! While at WordStock, Oompa will host a poetry slam, conduct workshops with students and guests, and give a performance of her work.

Oompa is a nationally-acclaimed, Boston-born, poet, rapper, and educator, who is forever representing the queer, black, orphaned, hood kids and them. Oompa is the winner of the 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam, and a finalist at the 2017 National Poetry Slam. She has been featured in Huffington Post, Allston Pudding, Mass Apparel, and KillerBoomBox among others. Oompa's debut album, Nov. 3, was named one of Dig Boston's Top 30 Local Albums of 2016, one of Allston Pudding’s Favorite albums of 2016, and her sound has compared to that of Lauryn Hill, J.Cole, and Talib Kweli....Currently based in Boston, MA, Oompa is an organizer, mentor, and coach, as well as a member of media brand and collective Hipstory, and co-slam master of the House Slam. (from oompaofficial)

Check out @oompoutloud and her poetry and music HERE, and don't miss these opportunities to see and work with Oompa.

• Performance: Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Aleshire Theatre, Hartnett Hall
• Workshops: Thur. Oct. 5 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-2:00 p.m.; Fri. Oct. 6
• from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in 104 Old Main
• Poetry slam: Fri. Oct. 6 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in the Beaver Dam, Student Center 

NOTSTOCK 2017 Dates

NOTSTOCK 2017 will be here before you know it. Save these dates, and we hope to see you there!

Guante Opens NOTSTOCK 2016

WordStock kicks off NOTSTOCK with Guante, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, MC, activist, educator, and writer from Minneapolis. He has performed everywhere, from the United Nations to the Soundset Hip Hop Festival, to countless colleges, universities, clubs, theaters, and rallies across the US.. His work has appeared on Upworthy, MSNBC, Welcome to NightVale, Everyday Feminism, BBC Radio 6 Music, Button Poetry, and beyond.

Unapologetically social justice-minded, Guante strives to push boundaries in terms of both form and substance. He facilitates workshops and classes that use art as a jumping-off point for deeper conversations about identity, power, empathy, and agency. Guante also just completed his Master's studies at the University of Minnesota with a focus on the intersections of spoken word, critical pedagogy, and social justice education.

Guante will perform Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Aleshire Theatre. He will also conduct workshops with students on Sept. 22-23 and will host the Poetry Slam in the Beaver Dam on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. MSU alumnus and fellow writer, performer, and educator, Joe Davis, will assist Guante and work with students at area high schools.

Check out some of his spoken-word videos, like this one:


Make sure you sign up for the Poetry Slam in the Dam!

WordStock 2015

Jason McCall was great. His workshops helped others learn about writing poetry, and he shared his love of comics and superheros during his reading. A great crowd turned out to listen to their peers read and perform poetry at WordStock's Slam in the Dam 2015. Thanks, Jason, for hosting and being an amazing guest!

Slam in the Dam 2014

A great crowd turned out to listen to their peers read and perform poetry at WordStock's Slam in the Dam 2014. Thanks, Sierra and Joe, for hosting.

WordStock 2014

Sierra DeMulder was amazing! Her performance kept the audience smiling, laughing, crying, and feeling. Her workshops helped others use their words to illustrate their feelings. Thanks, Sierra!