Poetry like you’ve never heard it before…
In collaboration with The Portal HQ:
Culture At the Mic is an ongoing showcase of talented local artists hosted by The Portal HQ of Raleigh. Our goal is to create an intimate and powerful environment where the focus is on the artists and creating an open dialogue with their audience.
Laugh, cry, and yell as these performances bring you into a world of heartfelt words, beautiful refrains, cutting rhymes and ultimately change your expectations around what performance can be. Drinks will be available for purchase.
And this show’s artists are…
Sam Canney – Sam bridges relationships with revolution. He is the author of the forthcoming collection, Eden Unheard, which is now making its rounds with publishers. His poems have been featured in Cloudscent Journal’s Best-of-the-Issue, The Fool’s World by Raleigh Review, the Sonora Review, The Lickety Split by Chen Chen, and Pinhole Poetry, among others. Sam is the Founder and Co-Director of Third Angle Poets, a collective facilitating social change through performances, workshops, and mutual aid.
He holds two degrees from UNC Chapel Hill and is the recipient of the 2024 Brooklyn Poets (
https://brooklynpoets.org/) Fellowship. You can follow his work on Instagram @ SamCanney, and join the movement for social change as an artist or changemaker @ThirdAnglePoets
Ina Cariño – Performing and composing as Blue Haiku, Ina Cariño is a 2022 Whiting Award winner for poetry originally from the Philippines, and a local musician and visual artist. Their work appears in the American Poetry Review, Guernica, Poetry Magazine, the Paris Review Daily, and elsewhere. She is the winner of the 2021 Alice James Award for Feast, published by Alice James Books in March 2023. Their forthcoming collection Reverse Requiem is slated for publication in April 2026 (Alice James Books).
In 2019, Ina founded a poetry reading series called Indigena Collective, a platform that centers marginalized creatives in the NC community and beyond. Find out more at www.inacarino.com and www.indigenacollective.org
CJ Suitt – CJ (he/him or they/them) is a performance poet, arts educator, community organizer, and Restorative Justice practitioner from Chapel Hill, NC. His work lives at the intersection of art, healing, and justice, rooted in a deep belief that storytelling can connect people across difference and create pathways toward collective liberation. As the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Chapel Hill, CJ uses poetry as a tool for reflection, resistance, and community-building. He has co-directed and performed in theatrical productions, shared stages at national music festivals, and brought his voice to classrooms, prisons, and public forums alike.
His practice as a restorative justice advocate has led him to work with youth awaiting trial, incarcerated elders, and young men redefining masculinity in their schools and communities. Through collaborations with organizations like Transplanting Traditions, Benevolence Farm, and Growing Change, he explores how food, land, and story intertwine in the work of justice. CJ is committed to speaking truth to power and to build bridges where others see barriers. His values—truth, care, and connection—guide every space he enters.
Holding all this artistry together, your show will be hosted by the one and only Krystal Da Muse, the hostess with the mostest, here to ensure a seamless and beautiful experience.
While there are myriad ways to describe Miss Da Muse, the words of designer and illustrator Christoph Niemann are astoundingly relevant: “Amateurs wait for inspiration, professionals simply get up and go to work.” From executively producing one of the largest black tie poetry events in North Carolina (Inkspired), facilitating a monthly Gospel Open Mic, to being on stages with various celebrities such as Big Freedia, Tank and the Bangas, and Mike Epps, she has touched every level of entertainment with her gift.
About The Portal HQ:
The Portal HQ is more than just a venue—it’s a vibrant creative playground designed to bring people together and spark inspiration. Founded by NC State alumni, The Portal HQ was born from a shared vision: to create a space where creativity thrives and community flourishes.
At its core, The Portal HQ is about connection—connecting artists, innovators, and community members in a space that celebrates collaboration and creativity. It’s not just where events happen; it’s where ideas come to life.
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