Local author and performer, Divinity Rose hosts this open stage and interactive adventure each Friday night for kids and their parents to enjoy.  As Divinity tells us “The open mic serves many as a place to find community support in addition to being entertaining.  Parents swap ideas on resources for family needs, education, how they feel about issues affecting their family and more.”

The open stage runs from 6 to 10 PM with most people arriving between 7 and 8 PM. The cost is a suggested donation of at least $2-5 per person to be dropped in a jar upon entry. Next to the Donation Jar, there is a sign up sheet for those interested in performing. Every week, the night is full of music, laughs, prizes and an overall good time.  According to Divinity “It's usually a very interactive night with everyone there, although the parents do enjoy talking with each other as well. I've also been encouraging people to bring things to swap - old books, clothes, etc that another child may be able to use, and that's begun. There is seating - chairs, couches, love seats.”

With the children’s ages running from 2-13, participants can all tell stories and jokes, perform magic tricks, show and tell favorite items, play an instrument, sing, dance or share something that happened to them throughout the week. Divinity also performs her children's songs and poetry which ranges from inspirational and encouraging to playfully gross and entertaining. To keep things lively, bluegrass music duo Hominy and Grizz are often there to play songs for the kiddos to jam along with using one of the many musical instruments laying around for them to pick up.

Divinity wanted to offer a safe environment that allows kids to shine as themselves and realize they can be celebrated for who they are. Throughout the night, Divinity brings up topics for the kids to discuss which allow them to learn from themselves and each other.

"We all have fears; we all want to love and be loved; we all want to be ourselves and fit in somewhere. Just by being who we are, we can fulfill a need somewhere. Everything begins with accepting who we are, and it helps tremendously if we have others that accept us unconditionally," says Divinity. "We're one big family here. When I see everyone leave energized, smiling and feeling good, it makes me glow inside."

For more information, or to sign up for Divinity’s weekly newsletter, please visit www.divinityrose.com.