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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Kalamazoo Poetry Festival
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T193000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260119T035831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T040330Z
UID:3128-1770919200-1770924600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Concomitant: Reflections on Grief and Loss Through Monoprinting and Poetry
DESCRIPTION:SIGN UP USING THE EVENTBRITE LINK:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980838197371?aff=oddtdtcreator\n\nPrintmaking + tanka poetry to explore grief\, loss\, and intimacy through guided prompts\, reflection\, and structured creative practice.\n\n\n\nThis 2-part workshop series meets twice- February 12 & 19\, 2026\, hosted in the new Kalamazoo Poetry Festival space at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition in downtown Kalamazoo. Sessions run 6pm–7:30pm. \n*PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP IF YOU CANNOT MAKE BOTH SESSIONS. \nFebruary 12\, 2026 at 6pm\, doors at 5:30pm \nFebruary 19\, 2026 at 6pm\, doors at 5:30pm \nThis workshop will focus on the roles poetry and printmaking can play in processing complex emotions related to grief\, loss\, and intimacy. I focused on post-modern models of grief like the Dual Process Model and meaning reconstruction theory. Each model suggests that grief is always present\, occupying varying amounts of space in our lives. I will have participants create monotypes for a prompt on silicone mats and we will print them onto paper. Then we will write corresponding tanka poems while reflecting on the artwork. During the art-making process\, we will focus on specific questions like: What emotions\, words\, ideas\, and sensations arise when thinking of the prompt? How do these ideas connect to my experience of grief? I chose the specific processes of printmaking and poetry because they both have defined structures that may help individuals who struggle with interoception and alexithymia. I think this workshop very clearly correlates to the theme of beyond resilience. \nBio: \nHali is a papermaker and printmaker based in Southwest Michigan. Their creative work\, driven by a passion for fiber and book arts\, explores themes of storytelling\, liminality\, folk life\, and the environment\, often utilizing natural and found materials. \nSocial Media: https://www.instagram.com/bunzine/?hl=en
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/concomitant-reflections-on-grief-and-loss-through-monoprinting-and-poetry/
LOCATION:KNAC\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HaliWilliams3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260221T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260221T160000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20251210T161605Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T161605Z
UID:3092-1771678800-1771689600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Ekphrastic Art Event
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to welcome you to our third annual Ekphrastic Art Event\, presented in partnership with Move With Joy! \nThis is a relaxed\, come-as-you-please gathering\, with doors open for three hours. We invite you to drop in\, create\, and explore. All participants are encouraged to make their own visual artwork inspired by our 2025–2026 festival theme\, “Beyond Resilience.” Art supplies will be provided\, and local artist Aerick Burton will be on site to guide and facilitate. \nExpect music\, poetry readings\, art-making\, and snacks\, a warm\, creative space to connect\, unwind\, and show us what “Beyond Resilience” means to you. \nAfter the event\, you’ll have the option to donate your artwork to inspire the 2026 Community Poem\, written by Friends of Poetry. They will reflect on your pieces and craft a collective poem that will be performed at our 2026 Celebration of Community Poets in April. \nCome make art\, be in community\, and help shape the poetry of next year’s festival!
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/ekphrastic-art-event/
LOCATION:Move With Joy\, 1103 Portage St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49001\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Your-paragraph-text-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T193000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260119T040232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T150940Z
UID:3133-1772733600-1772739000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Roots & Wings: Stories of Survival and Soaring
DESCRIPTION:SIGN UP USING THE EVENTBRITE LINK BELOW:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/roots-wings-stories-of-survival-and-soaring-tickets-1980840583508?aff=oddtdtcreator\n\nPaint + write poems on “Beyond Resilience\,” creating a split-canvas of roots (strength) and wings (future growth).\n\n\n\nThis 2-part workshop series meets twice- March 5 &19\, 2026\, hosted in the new Kalamazoo Poetry Festival space at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition in downtown Kalamazoo. Sessions run 6pm–7:30pm. \n*PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP IF YOU CANNOT MAKE BOTH SESSIONS. \nMarch 5\, 2026 at 6pm\, doors at 5:30pm \nMarch 19\, 2026 at 6pm\, doors at 5:30pm \nThis workshop blends painting and poetry to explore the theme of ‘Beyond Resilience.’ Participants will reflect on their personal journeys\, creating poems that capture their ‘roots’ (sources of grounding and strength) and their ‘wings’ (aspirations and thriving futures). Through guided writing prompts and painting\, each person will design a split-canvas artwork that visually represents both resilience and growth beyond it. The session closes with an optional share-circle where participants can read excerpts of their poems or describe their artwork\, fostering community connection and collective inspiration. By the end\, participants will leave with both a written and visual representation of their journey from survival toward soaring. \nBio: \nErica Smith is a creative wellness practitioner and founder of Fortunate Fourth Creations & Media\, where art meets healing. She empowers communities through therapeutic art\, storytelling\, and transformative art experiences. \nHeadshot Photo Credit: \nHananiah Harden\, Black Magic Media \nSocial Media (with space for clickable links): \n\nFacebook: Fortunate Fourth Creations — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560172731523\nInstagram: @fortunatefourthcreations — https://www.instagram.com/fortunatefourthcreations/\nTikTok: @fortunatefourthcreations — https://www.tiktok.com/@fortunatefourthcreations\nLinkedIn: Erica Smith — https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-smith-67038a362/
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/roots-wings-stories-of-survival-and-soaring/
LOCATION:KNAC\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EricaSmith3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260312T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260312T220000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260210T132717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T132717Z
UID:3173-1773342000-1773352800@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Son of The White Mare Film Screening
DESCRIPTION:Thanks to Kalamazoo Poetry Festival for sponsoring this film!\nArrive when doors open for a pre-show that mixes poetry and film\, just like Son of the White Mare! Thanks to our collaboration with Kalamazoo Poetry Festival\, we’ll have a celebration of both art forms\, including live performances and collaborative writing of poems by attendees.\nPurchase tickets using the link.\n\nReaders:\nMia Hawkins\nBio: Hello\, I am Mimi Hawkins\, a poet and writer\, who weaves the dramatic lens of life I live into everything I write. My style is a stream of consciousness style\, jumping through vivid daydreams as a way of understanding\, which is paired with bluntness that rips through the figurative language\, grounding everything.\n\nElizabeth Bullmer\nBio: Elizabeth Bullmer is a poet/writer/spoken word and visual artist working as a self-employed\, licensed massage and sound therapist\, in Kalamazoo. She also facilitates writing workshops and small sharing circles for all ages. Bullmer’s most recent publication is a poetry chapbook\, Skipping Stones on the River Styx.\n\n\nOne of the great psychedelic masterpieces of world animation\, Son of the White Mare is a swirling\, color-mad maelstrom of mythic monsters and Scythian heroes\, lit by jagged bolts of lightning and drenched in rivers of blue\, red\, gold and green. A massive cosmic oak stands at the gates of the Underworld\, holding seventy-seven dragons in its roots; to combat these monsters\, a dazzling white mare goddess gives birth to three heroes – Treeshaker and his brothers – who embark on an epic journey to save the universe. Directed by Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovics (famed for his 1974 Oscar-nominated short Sisyphus)\, Son of the White Mare has been restored in 4K using the original 35mm camera negative and sound elements by Arbelos in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute. \n“Once upon a time\, at the doors of Hell\, there stood a tall turkey oak. It had 77 roots and 77 branches. On the 77 roots stood 77 dragons. On the 77 branches sat 77 crows. Let the one who doesn’t listen to this tale have their soul stolen by the 77 dragons\, and their eyes pecked by the 77 crows!” \nSon of the White Mare \n1981\n1h 26min\nDirector: Marcell Jankovics\nWriter: Laszlo Gyorgy\, Marcell Jankovics\nCast: Gyorgy Cserhalmi\, Vera Pap\, Gyula Szabo
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/son-of-the-white-mare-film-screening/
LOCATION:Doormouse Theatre\, 1030 Portage Street\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49001\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Monoform20261-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T180000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260318T134206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T134206Z
UID:3209-1773939600-1773943200@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Gwen Frostic Reading Series- Poetry Reading by Iliana Rocha\, March 18-19
DESCRIPTION:CHECK OUT THE FLYER FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATOIN ON THE READER THIS MONTH! \nAbout the Series\nThe Gwen Frostic Reading Series brings acclaimed authors of poetry\, prose\, and drama from across the nation to Kalamazoo and the surrounding community. All readings are free and open to the public. The series is made possible by a generous gift from Gwen Frostic\, a distinguished artist\, author\, naturalist\, and entrepreneur who earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1929.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/gwen-frostic-reading-series-poetry-reading-by-iliana-rocha-march-18-19/
LOCATION:Brown Hall\, WMU\, 1903 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, 49008\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ilianarochaflyer.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260324T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260324T193000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260316T022822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T022822Z
UID:3189-1774375200-1774380600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Begin Again: Breath as Becoming with Dr. Tasleem
DESCRIPTION:Overview- RSVP REQUIRED\n\n\n\nBreath-guided poetry workshop exploring renewal\, release\, and the courage to transform and begin again through generative writing prompts. \n\n\n\n\nBegin Again: Breath as Becoming with Dr. Tasleem \nWhat does it mean to begin again and again and again? This poetry workshop explores the power of breath as a doorway into transformation and renewal. Together\, we’ll write into the truth that it is never too late to transition into a new version of yourself — to step up\, expand\, and grow beyond who you thought you had to be. Through guided breathwork and generative prompts\, participants will explore release\, rebirth\, and the courage to begin again. As long as there is breath in the body\, there is room to transform. \nBiography \nTasleem Jamila is an International Poet\, Vocalist\, Author\, Speaker\, Educator and Holistic Health Advocate. She is CEO of My Soul Speaks\, a company that creates interactive workshop/ presentation/performances across the world. Her work highlights the way hip hop\, culture and spoken word theater can contribute to freedom\, justice and equality for all people. \nAs an advocate for women and children’s rights with a universal approach her programs have been utilized in detention centers to universities across the globe. With performances that include The Kennedy Center\, Excel London\, Columbia University (NYC) and the African World Festival of the Arts\, just to name a few. She has performed her works across the US as well as the UK\, Africa\, and Canada and continues to tour worldwide. \nTasleem recently published a book of poetry\, Black Baptist Muslim Mystic which is receiving critical acclaim in addition to her album “Tasleem” and live and unplugged DVD “My Soul Speaks”. She is sought after for her captivating energy as a host\, professional skills as a cultural producer and educating activist as a workshop facilitator. Tasleem is pushing the boundaries with her new book of poetry\, Black Baptist Muslim Mystic: From the Cosmos which is also a multi-media show\, art exhibit with original musical composition (Reginald Robinson) to tour. She won a fellowship traveling to London\, England to perform and participate as a performance artist at events with Prince Charles\, Mayor Boris Johnson of London and many Prime Ministers. \nTasleem Jamila is also a featured artist for her poem \, “I AM” from her book Black Baptist Muslim Mystic: From the Cosmos with the International Women’s Museum breaking down stereotypes of women. She has shared the stage with such artists as The Last Poets\, Rakim\, Yuna\, KRS-1\, Vieux Farka Toure\,Brother Ali\, Tinariwen\, Tiraline\, Ali Shaheed Muhammad\, Lupe Fiasco\, Rock Steady Crew\, Kindred and the Family Soul\, Jurassic 5 among others. \nAs an activist poet Tasleem has written and performed special poetry for The Cancer Society of Chicago\, Domestic Violence Programs\, Peace in Streets Campaign and Youth Peace Summit. Along with her training in voice\, Tasleem studied in a special class entitled “Music and the Cosmos” with Master Kelan Phil Cohran (Sun-Ra) and Composition with Reginald R. Robinson\, Kerwin Young (Public Enemy\, Angie Stone\, Rakim) and Khari Lemuel. Tasleem Jamila’s talents doesn’t stop at poetry\, music\, production and design\, she also has her hand in acting. She has appeared in a documentary film about domestic violence which was showcased at The New York Cultural Museum. Tasleem has also appeared in the following movies: “Love Jones”\, “A Hip-Hop Journey with the Ancestors”\, (a film about Oscar Brown Jr\,)\, and a cameo in the film “New Muslim Cool”. \nAs a cultural producer\, Tasleem utilizes her skills working with the youth conducting workshops on self-esteem\, Hip-Hop and Poetry/Spoken Word and more. She is the creative mind behind many festivals\, events and productions. Tasleem has acted as Head Coordinator\, Stage Manager and Host for IMAN (Inner-city Muslim Action Network) Taking It to the Streets World Festival from 2005-2016. As a writer\, director and choreographer for productions\, her youth advocacy has allowed her to work with organizations such as Kuumba Lynx\, Little Black Pearl\, Family Matters\, After School Matters and Cease Fire as well. For ten years Tasleem hosted and produced a weekly radio show (Radio Islam) in Chicago giving her the opportunity to meet and interview 100’s of artists\, activists\, scholars and historians from across the world. Of the most notable icons she has interviewed: First Lady Michelle Obama\, Imam Warith Deen Mohammed\, Public Enemy\, Dead Prez\, KRS-1\, Black Sheep and more. She has been featured in the Chicago Tribune\, Muslim Journal\, Chicago Daily\, and on BBC\, WBEZ (NPR)\, WKKC (Chicago)\, ABC-Channel 7 (Chicago) and many internet and cable stations across the world. \nShe has also toured extensively and made numerous appearances on other artist’s albums and pages\, including Kuumba Lynx “El Barrio Clocks Our Beats and Rhymes” album\, Sound Mindz Music “The Attack of the Waybacks” album\, Vent Movements “Let the Movement Began” album and Floyd Boykin Jr\, “No More Silent Cries” anthology book. In 2009 she was asked to join a group of artist from around the world for a compilation CD dedicated to the legacy of Malcolm X “Necessary” to be released with three unpublished chapters of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”. Currently Tasleem is an editor for the project “Crossing Limits” which brings Muslim American and Jewish American Poets together. A full documentary about her life as an artist by Lunar Butterfly Productions was just released. She is also currently on tour promoting her book\, BLACK BAPTIST MUSLIM MYSTIC: From the Cosmos. Tasleem also continues to study to complete her degree in Naturopathy. As she grows so does her art…
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/begin-again-breath-as-becoming-with-dr-tasleem/
LOCATION:KNAC\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Copy-of-Untitled-Design.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T200000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260321T050042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T050042Z
UID:3235-1774634400-1774641600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Rambling Read Open Mic
DESCRIPTION:Rambling Read is truly rambling this month! We are headed to Heirloom Arts near the Maple Street YMCA for this months open mic. Join us to hear local poets Shanna Collins\, Devin Bullmer\, and Zoe Reyes. Also\, stay for the open mic and show us what you have been working on! \nDoors Open at 6pm\, reading begins at 6:30pm\, sign-up is in-person! \nBrought to you by Rambling Read and The Kalamazoo Poetry Festival. \nBios: \nShanna Collins is a visual artist\, cultural writer\, and former music organizer. She has written for VIBE magazine and appeared in the Chicago Reader. \nDevin Bullmer is a visual artist and writer currently working as a paraprofessional in special education. His work is often influenced by nature\, his queer identity\, and acceptance of the frustrating knowledge that nothing ever turns out exactly how you want it to. \nZoe Reyes is a poet whose work centers nature\, while also exploring politics\, healing\, and connection. She has been writing since she could first pick up a pen\, using poetry to process emotions and engage with the world around her.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/rambling-read-open-mic-2/
LOCATION:Heirloom Arts\, 1919 Stearns Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/654620005_18349160374238988_1014641229479265897_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260328T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260328T203000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260316T023422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T023422Z
UID:3192-1774724400-1774729800@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Poets in Print- Katy Didden and Samyak Shertok
DESCRIPTION:Poets in Print sponsored by Kalamazoo Poetry Festival\nKaty Didden and Samyak Shertok\n\n\n\n\nSaturday\, March 28\, 2026\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn person at the KBAC Gallery 7:00 p.m.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\nKaty Didden is the author of The Glacier’s Wake (Pleiades Press\, 2013) and Ore Choir: The Lava on Iceland (Tupelo Press\, 2022). Her poems and essays appear in journals such as Poetry Northwest\, Ecotone\, 32 Poems\, Diagram\, The Sewanee Review\, and The Kenyon Review\, and she is one of the co-creators of Almanac for the Beyond (Tropic Editions\, 2019). She is an associate professor at Ball State University where she directs the Creative Writing Program and teaches poetry workshops and Creative Writing and the Environment.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\nSamyak Shertok’s debut collection\, No Rhododendron\, was selected by Kimiko Hahn for the 2024 AWP Donald Hall Prize for Poetry and is forthcoming from the University of Pittsburgh Press (Pitt Poetry Series) in 2025. His poems appear in The Cincinnati Review\, The Gettysburg Review\, The Iowa Review\, The Kenyon Review\, POETRY\, Shenandoah\, Best New Poets\, and elsewhere. His honors include the Robert and Adele Schiff Award for Poetry\, the Gulf Coast Prize in Poetry\, and the Auburn Witness Poetry Prize. Originally from Nepal\, he was the inaugural Hughes Fellow in Poetry at Southern Methodist University and teaches creative writing at Hendrix College. For more\, please visit samyakshertok.com.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/poets-in-print-katy-didden-and-samyak-shertok/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Book Arts Center\, 326 W. Kalamazoo Avenue\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/642125171_18346963180238988_7203693902744741781_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260329T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260329T220000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260316T024030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T024030Z
UID:3199-1774810800-1774821600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:The Void Zine Drop
DESCRIPTION:Kalamazoo Poetry Festival sponsors a magazine! Come support local artists\, musicians\, and poets at The Void Zine drop! Featuring local poet and Fire Executive Director\, Destine Price. There will be snacks\, bands\, and a special poetry reading. \nDestiné Price (She/They) \nBorn in Kalamazoo\, Michigan and raised in both Kalamazoo & metro Detroit area\, Destiné plants herself in many spaces as a multimedia artist\, writer\, a poet\, a youth advocate guide\, and a healer. Destiné works as the Executive Director of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative holding a background of being a former fire youth and former program contractor of the organization. They have worked with youth\, peers\, and other youth development professionals in other capacities such as their previous position as a Volunteer Coordinator at Read and Write Kalamazoo\, a Youth Advocacy Consultant at KYDnetwork\, and student delegate of the International Congress of Youth Voices. They also uplift their community and practice sound therapy healing as a Sound Bath Practitioner. As a parent of 3\, Destiné continues to strive to show up as a critical lover in spaces\, a mother\, and an advocate.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/the-void-zine-drop/
LOCATION:Factory Coffee\, 213 E Frank St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MARCH-2026-6.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260403T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260403T200000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260321T033513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T033513Z
UID:3220-1775239200-1775246400@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Fire First Friday Open Mic PART ONE
DESCRIPTION:JOIN EGYPTRINITY AND HOST QUINCY ELLIS \nfor the Fire First Friday Open Mic\, which is the Part One open mic for the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Week! Doors Open at 5:30pm\, and sign up happens in-person. Come on out! \nPart Two Open Mic takes place on April 10\, at Fire\, hosted by Dane Hudson. The Your Turn Open Mic!
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/fire-first-friday-open-mic-part-one/
LOCATION:Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative\, 1249 Portage Street\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49001\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3CFC8F4A-6789-40A9-B18F-C072E2590DCA.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T203000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260113T184513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T022453Z
UID:3120-1775759400-1775766600@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Celebration of Community Poets
DESCRIPTION:The Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Celebration of Community Poets is back for 2026! We are excited to welcome the public to this FREE event.\nDoors open at 6pm\, and show starts promptly at 6:30pm.\nCome hear local poets and musicians perform their own work at The Crawlspace Theatre\, located inside the KNAC in downtown Kalamazoo.\nThere will be light refreshments and a DJ for some socializing afterward. Please come out and support local art! Bring a friend or ten\, and make an evening of it.\nHope to see you there! \nClick the event website link below to be directed to our Facebook event. OR RSVP using this link- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985237502812?aff=oddtdtcreator
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/celebration-of-community-poets/
LOCATION:Crawlspace Theatre\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Copy-of-Your-paragraph-text-16.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260410T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260410T210000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260210T133138Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T133353Z
UID:3176-1775847600-1775854800@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Your Turn Open Mic
DESCRIPTION:Emcee Dane joins us again for the Your Turn Open Mic at Fire on Portage Road. We are splitting the open mic up into two weeks this year\, because of how popular it was last year! Sign up will be in person at the event\, and we welcome all poetry\, acoustic music\, micro fiction\, and fiction excerpts. Each performer will have five minutes on the mic. \nThere will be refreshments\, and good company. Come on out and show Kalamazoo your creativity! \nDoors and sign up open: 6:30pm \nShow starts:7pm
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/your-turn-open-mic/
LOCATION:Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative\, 1249 Portage Street\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49001\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FINALE-READING-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T113000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260321T045146Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T045343Z
UID:3230-1775901600-1775907000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Let the World Suggest the Poem with Alen Hamza
DESCRIPTION:REGISTRATION REQUIRED- LINK BELOW \nLet the World Suggest the Poem: Use everyday language and surroundings as inspiration to spark poems through curiosity\, play\, and openness. \n\n\n\n\nLet the World Suggest the Poem \nWhen writing poems\, we often begin by engaging with the most intimate parts of ourselves. We rummage through the contents of our lives and minds\, waiting for a spark of inspiration to break the blankness of the page. But what if we trust someone/something else to set the stage for our poem? In this workshop\, we will experiment with the writing process by letting our surroundings and the words of others be the entry points to our work. In a spirit of receptivity\, curiosity\, and playfulness\, we will engage with the forms of language that we encounter in the everyday and build a bridge between the external and the internal\, inviting others to guide us to ourselves.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/let-the-world-suggest-the-poem-with-alen-hamza/
LOCATION:KNAC\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AlenWorkshop-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T130000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260321T045002Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T033525Z
UID:3227-1775907000-1775912400@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:The Fire This Time with jessica Care moore
DESCRIPTION:REGISTRATION REQUIRED- LINK BELOW \njessica Care moore explores poems and inspires participants to use art for social change. Poetry is resistance art. \n\n\n\nThe Fire This Time \njessica Care moore explores poems and \ninspires participants to use art for social \nchange. Poetry is resistance art. Come \nwith your pen ready & heart & mind open. \n 
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/the-fire-this-time-with-jessica-care-moore/
LOCATION:KNAC\, 315 W Michigan Ave\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007-5007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Copy-of-Untitled-Design-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T140000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260321T033910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T033910Z
UID:3223-1775908800-1775916000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Creative Workshop Rhythm and Words at Fire
DESCRIPTION:Facilitators EgypTrinity and Quincy Ellis lead a creative workshop. \nWhere poetry meets sound. Where voice meets beat. Where you meet your next level. Join us for an immersive workshop blending spoken word\, rhythm\, and creative expression_ whether you write\, perform or are just getting started\, this space is for YOU!
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/creative-workshop-rhythm-and-words-at-fire/
LOCATION:Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative\, 1249 Portage Street\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49001\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/9FC66B13-4C77-4262-B8DF-A596E1202D04.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T163000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260325T032839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T033303Z
UID:3240-1775921400-1775925000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Craft Talk 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join KPF for the 2026 Craft Talk between jessica Care moore and Alen Hamza\, moderated by Dane Hudson. Stay for a short coffee break\, before the Finale Poetry Reading at 5pm. \nThis event takes place upstairs at the Epic Center\, in the Cori Terry Theatre. \njessica Care moore: \njessica Care moore is an award-winning poet\, recording artist\, book publisher\, activist\, cultural arts curator\, and filmmaker who has become one of the leading voices of her generation; she is Detroit’s Poet Laureate (appointed in 2024)\, the Executive Producer and Founder of the 20-year-old rock & roll concert and empowerment weekend Daughters of Betty – Powered by Black WOMEN Rock!\, founder of The Moore Art House 501(c)(3)\, and the founder of Moore Black Press\, which has published poets including Saul Williams\, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka\, asha bandele\, and Danny Simmons; she has recorded her poetry with Hip Hop legends like Common\, Nas\, Jeezy\, Talib Kweli\, Karriem Riggins\, Jeff Mills\, The Last Poets\, Jose James\, and Roy Ayers\, is the author of *The Words Don’t Fit in My Mouth*\, *The Alphabet Verses The Ghetto*\, *God is Not an American*\, *Sunlight Through Bullet Holes* and *We Want Our Bodies Back*\, and her poetry and voice are featured on the 4th floor of the Smithsonian’s New National Museum of African American History. \nAlen Hamza: \nAlen Hamza immigrated to the United States from Bosnia-Herzegovina as a refugee at the age of fifteen. He is the author of Twice There Was a Country\, chosen by Brenda Hillman as the winner of the CSU Poetry Center First Book Award. His poems have appeared widely in literary journals\, including AGNI\, The Southern Review\, Waxwing\, Fence\, and The Missouri Review. He has an MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Utah. He has received fellowships from the Michener Center for Writers\, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown\, and the University of Utah. Hamza lives in Kalamazoo\, where he is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Western Michigan University. \n  \nAbout Dane:\nHealing\, accountability\, and belonging are at the heart of everything I do. As a non-binary\, Black masc-identified creative and community organizer born and raised in Detroit\, I’ve spent over 15 years helping organizations and individuals navigate the hard work of transformation. My experience spans nonprofit and for-profit spaces\, where I specialize in facilitating training\, developing curriculum\, and shifting organizational cultures to center inclusion and belonging. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Organizational Communication\, my work emphasizes the importance of intentionality\, equity\, and sustainable change. \nAs a writer\, poet\, and spoken word artist\, I use storytelling and creativity to build connection and inspire action. I’ve taught poetry workshops in alternative learning settings\, juvenile homes\, and after-school programs\, and I’ve curated spaces for open expression through hosting open mic events. Grounded in my lived experiences—including overcoming homelessness and mental health challenges—I approach every aspect of my work with empathy\, authenticity\, and a commitment to collective healing.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/craft-talk-2026/
LOCATION:Epic Center\, 359 S Kalamazoo Mall\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Copy-of-Untitled-Design-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T190000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260123T213314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T213314Z
UID:3153-1775926800-1775934000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:Finale Poetry Reading and Reception
DESCRIPTION:RSVP IS NOT REQUIRED BUT IT IS APPRECIATED! RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finale-reception-kalamazoo-poetry-festival-tickets-1981453153722?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl\n\nYOU CAN ALSO FIND THE FACEBOOK EVENT HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/17sdo9JWH2/\n\n\nHelp the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival welcome our 2026 featured poets jessica Care moore and Alen Hamza. This year\, we will be hosted by the wonderful folks at the Wellspring Dance Company\, in their Cori Terry Theatre. The theatre will house our Finale Reading\, and then we will head downstairs to the Black Arts and Cultural Center for the catered reception. \nThe Finale poetry reading will be ASL interpreted\, please spread the word! \nParking information has been made available in the information section of this event. Please read it carefully\, yes\, it is possible to park downtown! The Epic Center is conveniently located near two parking structures\, and there is street parking available. \nYou can read more about our poets below. \njessica Care moore: \njessica Care moore is an award-winning poet\, recording artist\, book publisher\, activist\, cultural arts curator\, and filmmaker who has become one of the leading voices of her generation; she is Detroit’s Poet Laureate (appointed in 2024)\, the Executive Producer and Founder of the 20-year-old rock & roll concert and empowerment weekend Daughters of Betty – Powered by Black WOMEN Rock!\, founder of The Moore Art House 501(c)(3)\, and the founder of Moore Black Press\, which has published poets including Saul Williams\, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka\, asha bandele\, and Danny Simmons; she has recorded her poetry with Hip Hop legends like Common\, Nas\, Jeezy\, Talib Kweli\, Karriem Riggins\, Jeff Mills\, The Last Poets\, Jose James\, and Roy Ayers\, is the author of *The Words Don’t Fit in My Mouth*\, *The Alphabet Verses The Ghetto*\, *God is Not an American*\, *Sunlight Through Bullet Holes* and *We Want Our Bodies Back*\, and her poetry and voice are featured on the 4th floor of the Smithsonian’s New National Museum of African American History. \nAlen Hamza: \nAlen Hamza immigrated to the United States from Bosnia-Herzegovina as a refugee at the age of fifteen. He is the author of Twice There Was a Country\, chosen by Brenda Hillman as the winner of the CSU Poetry Center First Book Award. His poems have appeared widely in literary journals\, including AGNI\, The Southern Review\, Waxwing\, Fence\, and The Missouri Review. He has an MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Utah. He has received fellowships from the Michener Center for Writers\, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown\, and the University of Utah. Hamza lives in Kalamazoo\, where he is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Western Michigan University.
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/finale-poetry-reading-and-reception/
LOCATION:Epic Center\, 359 S Kalamazoo Mall\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49007\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0978-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260429T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260429T193000
DTSTAMP:20260421T211706
CREATED:20260416T192026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T192026Z
UID:3269-1777485600-1777491000@kalamazoopoetryfestival.com
SUMMARY:In Our Own Words\, Gateway Youth Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening celebrating the poetry of young folks! \nHosted by the Richland Community Library\, emcee Elizabeth Kerlikowske!
URL:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/event/in-our-own-words-gateway-youth-poetry-reading/
LOCATION:Richland Community Library\, 8951 Park St\, Richland\, MI\, 49083\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kalamazoopoetryfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Flyer-KPF-Gateway-Poetry-Night-2_page-0001.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR