In a dimly lit venue in Ybor City called The Attic, the suicide prevention nonprofit foundation To Write Love On Her Arms held their event, An Evening With To Write Love On Her Arms. The event was held on Sept. 18, right after Suicide Prevention Week.

Headlining the event were JP Saxe, Canadian musician, Sierra Demulder, a poetry grand slam champion, and Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love On Her Arms. They all used their respective talents to showcase the night’s theme: Hope.

Opening up the night was Saxe, switching between keyboard and electric guitar and back again, accompanying himself as he sang songs about love and loss.

Demulder followed Saxe, but her spoken word poetry stole the show.

Her powerful verses about heartache, mental illness, eating disorders, sexual assault and other such heavy themes drew an emotional response from the audience. With prevailing and memorable phrases such as “Healing is not one size fits all,” there were few in attendance who were not impacted by her words.

Capping off the evening was Tworkowski. He gave some background on the foundation, stating that their whole year at the foundation centers around Suicide Prevention week and day, which is on Sept. 10 each year. The event held that night was the first of a three-city tour of Florida. Tworkowski said that these events were a sort of trial run. If successful, he hopes to bring the tour country-wide. He spoke about how suicide is never the answer, assuring attendees that they are loved and wanted, reminding them of how many people exist that need them.

“Tomorrow needs you,” he asserted.

To Write Love On Her Arms is based in Melbourne, Florida.

Saxe is a singer/songwriter from Toronto now based in Los Angeles. He became involved with To Write Love On Her Arms after attending an event they held in the Los Angeles House of Blues.

Demulder is a two-time National Poetry Slam champion.

In September of 2016, she partnered with poet Tonya Ingram in writing a piece for To Write Love On Her Arms entitled: “Today Means Amen.” for Suicide Prevention Week.