The Mighty Pens, the student poetry club at Alameda Community Learning Center (ACLC), will read from their 2017 student anthology, Wandering Minds, Dancing Words, at the upcoming Alameda Island Poets free gathering. The monthly reading, set for Wed., May 3, from 7 to 9 p.m., features an open-mic for those bold enough and light refreshments by donation. The fun takes place at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St.

The Mighty Pens will present their annual student anthology, on sale for $5. The club, facilitated by teacher Cathy Dana, creates a culture of poetry in middle school and high school at ACLC. 

Each year, ACLC students apply to be the school’s Poet Laureate. This year’s laureates are Mighty Pens Truly Edison and Tay Lew. In the weekly all-school gathering, laureates present a student to read “the poem of the week.” The young poets will also read their pieces at the 
ACLC annual Multicultural Night and perform at the Dancing Poetry Festival at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.