Kalamazoo Poetry Festival honors 'Gratitude' this year with a three-day event

KALAMAZOO, MI — The Kalamazoo Poetry Festival celebrates the theme of "Gratitude" this year with three days of events from April 24 to April 26.

"What excites me most about the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival is the range of voices we’ll hear sharing personal experiences through poetry and music," says Casey Grooten, Poetry Festival Executive Director. "Poetic spaces are inherently vulnerable, and I’m honored the Kalamazoo community trusts us enough to show up and speak out."

Timed to coincide with April as National Poetry Month, the bi-annual festival promises to provide inspiration, camaraderie, and guidance to poets both new and established. This year's festival kicks off with a Celebration of Community Poets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St. Several poets will read from their work, including Shondra Buchanan, Masaki Takahashi, Vidal Wilder, Kathleen McGookey, Read and Write Kalamazoo youth, and others.

The Ekphrastic Art Event occurred in February. Attendees created artwork based on the KPF theme of “Gratitude.”On Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m., DJ Great Dane hosts a Your Turn Open Mic at Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, 1249 Portage St.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The festival culminates in two poetry workshops featuring the theme, Gratitude, one facilitated by Denise Miller and the other facilitated by Aaron Coleman from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a Craft Talk with Miller and Coleman from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and the festival finale and reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday's events all take place at First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave. 

Grooten, who recently took the helm as director, is ushering in their first festival.

"Since last year, we’ve grown from a once-a-year festival to hosting monthly events. We’ve quadrupled our programming with the help of incredible partners like the Institute of Public Scholarship, YWCA Kalamazoo, Edison Neighborhood Association, Friends of Poetry, Move With Joy, Dreamscene Placemaking, and more. I’m deeply grateful to our board for their trust and to be in this role. KPF is growing, and it seems very fitting that our season’s theme is 'Gratitude.'" 

"I love this work. If bringing the healing power of poetry to more people — especially those whose voices have been silenced — means strengthening our community, I’m all in," says Grooten. "I encourage anyone curious about what we do or who we are to come out, enjoy the atmosphere and snacks, and experience great artwork." 

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