Michael Rothenberg

In 2011, Guerneville poet and web site editor Michael Rothenberg came up with the idea of staging poetry readings all over world on the same day, coordinated via the Internet.

He called the project “100 Thousand Poets for Change.”

While the idea grew that first year to include 700 events in 550 cities in 95 countries, its local presence was rather small — just a poetry reading in Santa Rosa’s Old Courthouse Square.

Now, in its third year, “100 Thousand Poets for Change” will run three days, Sept. 27-29, at the Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square.

The local event has grown not only bigger, but broader, expanding to include musicians and other performing artists, as well as poets.

There also will be a march for peace and sustainability, starting at noon Sept. 28 at the De Turk Round Barn, then proceeding to Old Courthouse Square for some performances, and finally ending at the Arlene Francis Center for a dance party from 3 p.m. to midnight.

“The local presence of the ‘100 Thousand Poets for Change’ movement has grown extensively, with 100TPC activities now taking place in Sonoma County all year round,” Rothenberg said.

For more information, and a full schedule, visit 100thousandpoetsforchange.com or the “100 Thousand Poets for Change” page on Facebook. Or call 305-753-4569.

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