Storytellers: Where Spoken Word Brings Community Together In The 954

In Broward County, culture shows up in many forms. Music, visual art, dance, theater, and festivals all play a role in shaping how people connect to place and to one another. Storytellers adds something both timeless and deeply needed to that mix: a space dedicated to listening.

Storytellers is a spoken word performance series curated and produced by Michael Pavlov of Ring The Bell Management, designed to center truth, vulnerability, and shared human experience. More than a poetry night or a stage show, it is a carefully held gathering where stories are spoken with intention and received with care.

In a world that often moves too fast to pause and reflect, Storytellers asks something simple and radical of its audience: be present.

What Spoken Word Really Is

For those unfamiliar with spoken word, the art form lives at the intersection of poetry, storytelling, and performance. It is language delivered aloud, shaped by rhythm, emotion, and lived experience. Spoken word artists draw from real moments in their lives, exploring themes like identity, belonging, loss, resilience, love, injustice, and transformation.

There are no costumes, no sets, and no distractions. Just a voice, a body, and a truth offered honestly.

That simplicity is what makes spoken word so powerful. It removes barriers between artist and audience and creates immediate emotional connection. When done with intention, spoken word does not perform at people. It speaks with them.

From Performance to Shared Experience

What sets Storytellers apart is its intentional design. Pavlov approaches the series less like a traditional event and more like a shared experience. Every element is curated with care, from the pacing of the evening to the artists invited to take the stage.

Audiences are encouraged to slow down, sit with silence when it arrives, and allow words to land fully. That collective presence transforms the room. Strangers sit side by side, listening to stories that may mirror their own lives in unexpected ways.

In that moment, community forms.

The Voices Behind This Edition

The upcoming installment of Storytellers brings together a powerful lineup of poets whose work reflects the heart of the series.

Featured performers include William Nu’utupu Giles and Carlos Robson, two nationally recognized spoken word artists known for their commanding presence, emotional depth, and intentional storytelling. Their work challenges audiences while remaining grounded and responsible, carrying weight without leaning on spectacle.

Adding a distinctly local voice to the evening is Lizz Straight, whose work anchors the experience in the community it is meant to serve. Her inclusion reflects Storytellers’ commitment to honoring both national perspectives and homegrown storytelling.

Guiding the night is returning host and emcee Calvin “MadeSON” Early, whose role extends beyond introductions. As the connective thread of the evening, he helps shape the emotional flow of the room, creating a sense of ease and safety that allows both artists and audiences to fully engage.

Why This Platform Matters in the 954

Broward County is rich in diversity, yet many people move through their days feeling unseen or unheard. Storytellers creates space for voices that are often overlooked and stories that do not always have a place to land.

This platform matters because it builds empathy.

When someone hears a poem that articulates a feeling they have never been able to name, walls come down. When someone listens to a story outside their own lived experience, perspective expands. Storytellers reminds us that connection does not require agreement. It requires listening.

In an era dominated by noise, distraction, and surface-level interaction, spoken word restores depth. It encourages sustained attention and emotional presence. That is not just art. That is community work.

A Civic Role for the Arts

Hosted at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, Storytellers reinforces the idea that the arts are a civic resource, not a luxury. The series transforms the theater into more than a performance venue. It becomes a place for dialogue, reflection, and collective experience.

By creating room for honest storytelling in a public cultural space, Storytellers strengthens the cultural fabric of the 954 and positions the arts as a vital part of community well-being.

Accessible by Design

One of the most powerful aspects of Storytellers is its accessibility. You do not need prior knowledge of poetry or spoken word to attend. You do not need to interpret the work in a specific way.

All that is required is openness.

The structure, pacing, and hosting are intentionally designed to welcome first-time attendees while still offering depth for those familiar with the art form.

That balance makes Storytellers an ideal entry point for anyone curious about spoken word or seeking a meaningful cultural experience.

Why It Matters Now

We are living in a time marked by constant stimulation and growing disconnection. Storytellers offers something increasingly rare: a room where people come together to listen without interruption.

It reminds us that stories still have the power to shift perspective, spark empathy, and foster understanding. It shows that art does not need to be loud or flashy to be impactful. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen in quiet attention.

More Than a Night Out

At its core, Storytellers is about belonging. It is about recognizing ourselves in others and leaving with a deeper awareness of shared humanity.

Through the vision of Michael Pavlov and Ring The Bell Management, Storytellers continues to carve out an essential space in Broward County’s cultural landscape, one where words matter, silence is respected, and community is built through listening.

Storytellers is where spoken word brings community together in the 954, not just for a night, but in ways that linger long after the final word is spoken.

Event Details

Location: Sunrise Civic Center Theatre

Address: 10610 West Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351

Date & Time: Saturday, February 28 at 8:00 pm

Tickets and additional details: https://www.sunrisefl.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/16590/56

About Choose954

Choose954 is a hyperlocal cultural platform dedicated to spotlighting the people, places, and experiences shaping Broward County’s creative community. Through stories, events, and collaborations, Choose954 connects residents and visitors to what’s happening across the 954. Have a story tip, event, or local business we should cover? Visit Choose954.com to share and submit.