EVENT LINK: https://tinyurl.com/poets-across-lines
December 12th, 8pm- 9:30pm EST, Virtual, Free
Join us on December 12, 2024 at 8:00pm EST for an evening of poetry and community. The four poets of the inaugural cohort of Poets Across Lines, Arlo Pate and Kevin L. Tarver in Birmingham and Kevin Sanchez and RuthAnn in Tucson, will read poems created during the program. These poems center around the themes of housing, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ identity, amplifying poetry and poets from communities underserved by the traditional literary establishment. Featuring introductions and readings by program Mentors Erika Wade and Gabriel Dozal, and poems by Advisors Salaam Green and Ofelia Montelongo! This incredible evening of poetry and readings featuring emerging and established poets will center and celebrate community poets, their role and their work.
Poems from this evening will be available in Watching for the Moon Above: Poets Across Lines (Community Poetry from Birmingham & Tucson) a collaborative zine produced by Pansy Press. You can download the zine for free at the end of the reading.
Learn more about the four selected poets of Poets Across Lines 2024:
Arlo Pate (he/they) is a writer and educator currently nestled in Birmingham, Alabama. After studying Anthropology, they got their start in farming and since then has followed opportunities that lead him closer to agriculture and labor organizing. Their relationship with the land has a profound influence on their songwriting and poetry.
Kevin L. Tarver (he/him) is a writer, educator, and mental health advocate living in Birmingham, AL. He is a Black gay man trying to live a joyful life through fierce self-care and emotional honesty. His subject matter includes mental and emotional health awareness, sexual health education, and his experiences within the southern LGBT+ community.
Kevin Sanchez (he/him) was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. As a first generation college graduate, he earned a BA in English and a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Kevin is currently a high school teacher, sharing his love for literature and writing with the future generations of poets.
RuthAnn (they/them) is an aroace abolitionist and accessibility advocate. Born and raised in Arizona, they love the Sonoran Desert, where they continue to reside today. They are a translator and aspiring librarian. In addition to poetry, they enjoy singing, dancing, photography, cross stitch, and hand lettering.
Free and open to the public with registration! The Zoom link will be provided the day of the event.
About the Program
Poets Across Lines is a cross-regional poetry writing program in Birmingham, AL and Tucson, AZ where four poets, two in each city, write poetry that tells the story of their communities—joys, challenges, and resiliency. Through instructor-led writing workshops, cohort convenings, and guest speaker sessions, Poets Across Lines fosters a space that believes poetry is a site of community and coalition building. Learn more on our website or by emailing pal@pen.org.