Meantime Coffee Co. Hosts Annual Open Mic Night

UNC students share original writing and performances at the community-focused event.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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On Sunday, February 15, Meantime Coffee Co. hosted its annual open mic night at its Innovate Carolina Junction location, providing a platform for UNC students and Chapel Hill community members to share original writing, songs, and performances. The event, co-hosted with 1789 - UNC's student entrepreneurship hub, featured free food and drinks, creating a welcoming environment for creativity and connection.

Why it matters

Meantime Coffee Co. has cultivated a supportive community for student artists and creatives, reflecting the company's mission to uplift the Chapel Hill community and its students. The open mic night is a valuable opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones, share their work, and engage with the local community.

The details

The open mic night featured a variety of student performances, including original poetry readings, song covers, and guitar performances. Some students, like Rotdalmwa Dimka, a junior biochemistry major, used the event to check off a personal goal of sharing their writing in a public setting. Others, like Duffy Ward, a first-year political science major and Meantime barista, performed spontaneously, highlighting the welcoming and supportive environment Meantime has fostered.

  • The open mic night was held on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • Meantime Coffee Co. hosts the annual open mic event around Valentine's Day each year.

The players

Meantime Coffee Co.

A local coffee shop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that has cultivated a supportive community for student artists and creatives.

1789

UNC's student entrepreneurship hub located in the Innovate Carolina Junction, which co-hosted the open mic night with Meantime Coffee Co.

John Swinea

A senior business administration major who serves as the operations manager for Meantime at the Junction.

Rotdalmwa Dimka

A junior biochemistry major and Morehead-Cain Global Fellow exchange student from the University of Jos in Nigeria, who shared her original poetry at the event.

Duffy Ward

A first-year political science major and Meantime barista, who performed a spontaneous song cover with first-year neuroscience major Aleksander Dickens.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like what's special about Meantime is that we've cultivated such an environment of this psychological safety, and we are UNC and we're all students, and I feel like it provides a space where people feel comfortable and safe to perform and express themselves.”

— John Swinea, operations manager for Meantime at the Junction (dailytarheel.com)

“It also was on my bucket list to read one of my poems in a public space here at UNC.”

— Rotdalmwa Dimka, junior biochemistry major (dailytarheel.com)

“I wouldn't feel comfortable performing anywhere else so spur of the moment. This is the one place that I can feel like, I don't know, everyone can come their most raw selves.”

— Duffy Ward, first-year political science major and Meantime barista (dailytarheel.com)

“There's a very openness and vulnerability in performing, and doing that in a community space where you're just showing it all out here like 'This is who I am' — that's very inspiring. You see that, and you're like, 'These are wonderful, beautiful people. I want to contribute to this, too.'”

— Aleksander Dickens, first-year neuroscience major (dailytarheel.com)

What’s next

Meantime Coffee Co. plans to continue hosting its annual open mic night around Valentine's Day, providing a platform for student artists and creatives to share their work and build community.

The takeaway

Meantime Coffee Co. has created a welcoming and supportive environment for UNC students to express themselves, fostering a sense of community and creativity that is valuable for the campus and Chapel Hill community.