Down In the Ro’ Open Mic Experience is one of Newark’s leading poetry and performance arts platforms. For the past few years, Femme Curator Arts produced an outlet for the community to be back together again, safely, at the request of our Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka. DITR‘s aesthetic of a live band or DJ, backdrops, lights and plants for a home-like feel, serves the people. Reviews from in-person guests to residents tuned in on Channel 78, allowed us to keep building the community based performance platform. Down In the Ro’ featured some of New Jersey’s most talented creatives, live from Newark‘s City Hall. Features included Leah Jenea (The Four), Dr. Anotinette Ellis-Williams and husband, Junius Williams, poet and author Jasmine Mans, Bella Star, Starski the Poet, Janetza Miranda, Dr. Janice Johnson-Dias, and many more. At the beginning of the 2023, DITR curated its most powerful experience yet, our Voices of the Youth show where the youth shared their voices, hopes and opinions. DITR started its mobile pop-up poetry experiences with local partners and galleries around the tri-state area. Down In The Ro’ appeared larger than ever for the North to Shore 2023 event lineup live at Newark Local Beer.