Homan hosts monthly WordPlay Open Mic Night poetry readings at Arts on Main, 205 S. Main St. in downtown Elkhart. There are no religious requirements to participate, but the comfortable atmosphere beckons people to share their poems and stories, often in front of total strangers.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: WordPlay Open Mic Nights, open mic poetry readings

“There’s such a great opportunity to hear stories about everybody,” Homan said. “If you don’t tell your story, you won’t know what you’re about. If you put it out there, you say how you feel, you say what’s in your heart, it helps you. It helps everybody.”

Homan believes poetry should accessible to everyone, regardless of their education, age or interests. He started writing poetry in his 40s while studying Spanish at Indiana University South Bend and enjoyed the vibe of a poetry jam he attended on campus. He wanted an outlet to share his poetry and hear what other people in Elkhart were writing, so he reached out to the owners of Krav in April 2015 and started hosting open mic poetry nights every two weeks.

Eventually, Krav closed and Homan began hosting monthly open mic nights at The Electric Brew on Lexington Avenue. The events moved to Arts on Main in the summer of 2016 so that poets could enjoy the comfort of a private space. Sometimes someone will play an upright bass or snare drum to add some jazz to the evening.

The open mic nights, held on the third Friday of every month, are a staple in the growing downtown Elkhart arts scene. There’s a crowd of regulars, but new faces are always showing up, Homan said. Some people come just to listen to others read poetry, but many come with something to share.

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