by Michael Sedano

From: Labloga

Karineh Mahdessian restrained the tears that refused restraint so the tears flowed as she disclosed news to a supportive crowd that today wraps her service hosting the immensely important and popular reading series, La Palabra at Avenue 50 Studio in Northeast Los Angeles. The December 10 meeting wraps the series for 2017.

Avenue 50 Studio has yet to announce January’s host. Mahdessian will be in the audience. Joining her will be Don Newton and Laura Luisa Longoria, Luivette Resto, Jessica Ceballos y Campbell, the stellar lineup of hosts emeriti.

For this final celebration, Karineh invited her parents, shown in the heart of the group portrait. Numerous others who’ve featured or open mic’d through the years joined the readers in the circle of readers.

Circles have no beginning and no ending, a circle circles continuously. That’s the logic of a La Palabra reading, The Circle. Today’s circle doubled down, taking a round-robin format. Readers take the floor inspired by a previous reader or a moment’s duende.

Mahdessian launches the day with a tribute reading, Maya Angelou’s “And Still I Rise.”

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