Poetry Speaks for Us seeks to increase creative writing and spoken word support on site for those who are living in shelters or supportive housing, or have recently moved but are without encouragement to continue writing. The isolation that comes from moving can be overwhelming. Our goal is to further grow and offer support with pop-ups by the Poetry Speaks for Us Visiting Poet Association.

Poetry Speaks for Us aims to increase writing and open mics as safe supportive communities for all to grow confidence and stability from institutions to communities. Since 2017 the monthly workshop at Sister’s Uptown Bookstore and Cultural Center in Harlem continues to be a safe accessible space where women and children from shelters, crisis center clients and community members of all ages and experiences come together to support each other’s emerging voice. Poetry Speaks for Us seeks to offer more barrier free platforms for communities to converge, connect and grow stronger via spoken word as we celebrate fellowship that grows from writing and sharing our poems, songs, stories and messages of perseverance and hope.