Today marks the beginning of April—also known as National Poetry Month! Created by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, this annual month-long celebration brings together poets, students, publishers and libraries in a nation-wide appreciation of poetry. During National Poetry Month, the 2014 class of the National Student Poets Program (NSPP), the nation’s highest honor for teen poets presenting original work, is leading the charge to engage diverse audiences in poetry and promote an appreciation of the literary arts across the country.
What does this mean?
Throughout the month of April, teen poets Weston Clark, Julia Falkner, Ashley Gong, Madeleine LeCesne and Cameron Messinides will actively host and participate in poetry events, readings and workshops within their respective U.S. regions to showcase the crucial role that writing and the arts play in future academic and personal success. Since their appointment in Washington D.C. in September, the National Student Poets have been pretty busy. They met First Lady Michelle Obama, participated in readings at the Library of Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, presented at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, and more! Now, through their April literary events, these literary ambassadors will broaden their reach and amplify their ongoing efforts to encourage new audiences of all ages to embrace the art of poetry.
Keep an eye out! Upcoming April 2015 NSPP events include:
- April 1–3: All Poets, National Youth Poetry Assembly, Chicago, IL
The National Student Poets and representatives of poetry slam and spoken word organizations from around the country will convene for the National Youth Poetry Assembly, hosted by The Poetry Foundation, to examine and contemplate issues around the role of poetry in youth culture. - April 3–4: Weston Clark, 16, Featured Poet, Mission Creek Festival, Iowa City, Iowa
Weston is a featured poet and reader for Mission Creek Festival’s Lit Crawl. - April 15: Ashley Gong, 16, Special Guest Reader, Poetry & the Creative Mind, New York, NY
Ashley will present her original poetry as a special guest reader at this annual gala presented by the Academy of American Poets, the nonprofit organization behind National Poetry Month. - April 15: Cameron Messinides, 17, Featured Reader, Lunchtime Author Talks, South Carolina Center for the Book, Columbia, SC
Cameron will read, then introduce Ray McManus, author of Punch. - April 18–20: Julia Falkner, 17, Featured Reader, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles, CA
Julia will be introduced on the Poetry Stage by LA Poet Laureate, Luis J. Rodriguez, on April 18, and will read again that evening at An Evening of Poetry at the Craft and Folk Art Museum. - April 25: Madeleine LeCesne, 18, Judge and Presenter, Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock, AR
Madeleine will attend the Arkansas Literary Festival and serve as a youth judge and presenter.
The National Student Poets Program reflects the national imprimatur of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Students in grades 9–11 who are interested in becoming National Student Poets can submit their work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition initiative for creative teens.
For up-to-date information about National Student Poets' events during National Poetry Month, be sure to follow NSPP on Facebook and across social media using the hashtag #5poets. And of course, don't forget to use #npm15!
Image via the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
