The next few days are are packed full of story and spoken word happenings for people of all ages and sensibilities.

1. Author Nick Belardes has devoted his life to poking around the peculiar and perplexing.  He’ll be sharing strange stories, random obsessions and bizarre trivia at the Random Obsessions Book Tour on Wednesday, September 23 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the UA Student Union Bookstore, 1209 E. University Blvd., Call 621-2814 for more information.

2. Refugees’ amazing stories of hardship, courage and hope come to life using music, song, dance and live performance via the talents of the Stories that Soar! professional acting troupe on Saturday, September 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Catalina High School Auditorium, 3645 E. Pima.

This free community event hosted by Chairman Richard Elias is open to the public.  The stories start at 6 p.m. and a public forum to discuss issues and share ideas  follows at 7. Food provided by the refugee community will be offered during the intermission.

3. Poetry Joeys, a Saturday morning reading and activity group for children ages four through ten will meet this Saturday, September 26 at 10 a.m. at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 East Helen Street (At Vine Avenue).

Two experienced teaching artists divide children into age-appropriate groups and inspire them to develop their flexibility with language. Participants in each session read and write poems and enjoy creative movement activities that spark the imagination. Poetry Joeys meets in the Children’s Corner of the library.

4.  Edge 17: a Reading Series of Emerging and Younger Writers, curated by Melissa Buckheit will be featuring three poets on Thursday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Casa Libre en la Solana, 228 N. 4th Avenue.  There’s a suggested donation of $5.

Stephanie Balzer is executive director of VOICES Community Stories Past and Present, Inc., a Tucson nonprofit that mentors youth in the documentary arts and publishes their work.

Rafael Otto writes fiction (long, short and flash), poetry, spoken word, and lyrics.

Orlando White is originally from Tólikan, Arizona. He holds a BFA in creative writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts and an MFA from Brown University.

According to the Casa Libre website, you can join White for a workshop, Let Err Poetry, focusing on “reexamining and rewriting the English alphabet from an imaginative perspective of one’s own ethnic and/or social sensibilities”.  The workshop is on Saturday, September 26 from 10 to 1 and costs $50.  Contact Casa Libre to register.

There are lots of opportunities for kids to tell their stories in Tucson.  Here are a few:

This is the 4^th year that Pima County Public Library presents the award-winning That’s My Take film project, where teens learn from professional filmmakers and work with mentors to write, direct and produce two-minute long cinematic adaptations of famous works of fiction.  Pan Left gave workshops to the participants and librarians in filmmaking for this project. This summer fifty teens were in the program and you can see eleven of the trailers and a short documentary about the project at The Loft on Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m.

VOICES is now recruiting youth ages 14 to 21 to participate in their fall documentary arts programs. Youth can learn how to take photographs, write stories, and be on the radio.  For more information check out the VOICES website, or call 520-622-7458.

Kore Press is looking for young women or female-identified or trans individuals, ages 14-19 for the Grrls Literary Activism Workshop to be held Sept 9 – Dec 16. To apply now call 327-2127 or email lisa@korepress.org.

Girls Making Media teaches teenage women digital media skills as they produce media segments about issues affecting women and girls in their community. The skills learned are used by program participants to educate, inform and influence public opinion about issues they have identified as affecting women and that call for action for social change.  Beginners sessions start on October 10.  This project is a collaboration between the WomanKraft Digital Arts Studio, and the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission. For details about how you can participate, contact Quynn Elizabeth, earthtribetv@yahoo.com, 520-954-2004.

Pima Community College is offering Words Play: Creative Writing, a class taught by Elena Acoba for 8- to 12 year-olds, inspiring young wordsmiths to write creatively. Exercises will guide writing about real people and places and imaginary worlds. At the end of the course each child will have written at least five pieces of work.  The class takes place Saturdays, October 3-24 from 9 to 11 a.m. You can register at Pima for Kids program at Pima Community College.

“Stories That Soar! is a literacy and performing arts program which merges the talents of professional adult performers and children’s original stories to create innovative and insightful theatre productions for schools and community events.” Our programs appeal to a wide range of children, regardless of race, culture, gender, ability and socio-economic status. We believe everyone has wonderful stories to tell; we are here to help those stories be heard in the most creative ways possible.” To find out more visit their website.