Words matter and words helped make a difference to several residents at the Lyon County Fairgrounds Bowyer Community Building Tuesday night.
The Bowyer Building hosted Emporia’s first Words Save Lives performing arts event where poets, musicians and comedians took the stage to share a powerful message. Amongst them was Kansas Poet Laureate Huascar Medina.
Words Save Lives is a statewide initiative that began in Lawrence in 2014. The event brings together artists of several mediums to help encourage and promote suicide prevention.
Medina says in just the past year Words Save Lives has grown significantly.
Medina, along with local poet Kerry Moyer, helped to organize the event as part of Suicide Prevention Awareness month. Medina says when it comes to the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, often times the only time individuals feel comfortable sharing their personal struggles is through the arts.
Medina referenced his own struggles as an example.
Around 20 performers took to the stage to share their own personal stories during Tuesday’s event. Moyer says he is hopeful this will become a traditional event in the community for years to come.
In Kansas, there are now nearly 20 Words Save Lives events taking place this year. More information is available online at www.wordssavelives.org.
