The Healing Power of Poetry Initiative

For this creative program we collaborate with Second Wave Media, the Edison Neighborhood Association, YWCA Kalamazoo, and the Institute of Public Scholarship to demonstrate the healing power of poetry in all aspects of life.

This Initiative was started with the help of a generous donation from The Poetry Foundation.

 

Edison Neighborhood Association Food Cupboard

Our friends over at the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival have donated numerous protein-packed canned goods to our community cupboard with a little soul food attached as well. Each can comes with a Kalamazoo Parks and Rec “All Things Possible” youth poem sticker so you can lift your spirits while you fill your belly.

“Poet’s Press” With Secondwave Media

Poet’s Press is a Second Wave quarterly series, presented in partnership with the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, that features news poems — an experimental form that examines local people, places, and events through a personal, poetic lens. Paired with original artwork, each piece invites readers to engage more intimately and reflectively with the life of our community. This is our first installment of the series.

 

Air Poetry in Collaboration With Kazoo Books and YWCA Kalamazoo

The event took place outdoors at Kazoo Books on August 23, 2025 from 4-6pm. The performance featured local musician Jessica Ivey, poet Markeva Love, and flash fiction writer Laura Citino.
The event also featured the unveiling of a limited run of t shirts, featuring poetry written by clients and staff at YWCA Kalamazoo during a poetry workshop facilitated by KPF in June 2025. All proceeds from the t shirt sales will be donated to the YWCA.

This Initiative is Expanding!

We are always looking for ways to demonstrate that poetry can be healing in all aspects of life. If you or someone you know work with a local Kalamazoo organization that focuses on social wellness, KPF would love the opportunity to meet and discuss how a poetic element could be added to some of your pre-existing programming. We are also open to conversations around creating a new program based in social wellness with a poetry component, in collaboration with your organization.