Poetry Planner

To submit: To list your poetry event, email JL Kato at jlkato575@gmail.com. Write "Poetry event" in the subject line and leave a phone number or email address for follow-up. Allow four weeks for submitted items to appear. And please send updates of cancellations, postponements or new information.

Disclaimers, denials, and definitions: This calendar is for events in central Indiana. Please confirm events using the contact info before traveling. Not responsible for canceled or discontinued events. All listings are in Indianapolis, unless otherwise noted. Bookmark this page, which will update periodically.

Corrections and comments: Send to the email listed above.

Ongoing events and permanent displays (needs to be uodated): http://jlkato.blogspot.com/2015/07/public-poetry-museums-and-displays-in.html

Calls for submissions to local journals and contests (needs to be updated): http://jlkato.blogspot.com/2015/08/to-include-your-call-for-submissions-to.html

Last updated 5/7/18. 4 p.m.

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Poetry Planner

Wednesday, May 9

6:30 p.m. Creative Writers, Inc. An opportunity for writers to share and learn at Hoosier Salon Gallery, 222 N. Range Line Road, Carmel. Bring a sample of your work. Every second Wednesday.

Thursday, May 10

7 p.m. Spoken word open mic at Kafé Kuumba at Harrison Brook Center, 4002 Cornelius Avenue, Indianapolis.Usually $5 admission. http://do317.com/events/weekly/thu/kafe-kuumba every Thursday.

Thursday, May 10

7 p.m. Iconoclast, an open mic series, at the Irving Theatre, 5505 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Free. Host: Devon Ginn.

Friday, May 11

7 – 8:30 p.m John Cardwell will read from his books, The Good Road Home and Dances in a West African Night at Indy Reads, 911 Masachuseets Avenue, Indianapolis.

Saturday, May 12

7 – 9 p.m. Mr. Blair's Open Mic Series features young poets and performance artists at BRICS, 901 E. 64th Street, Indianapolis. *

Saturday, May 12

7 – 10 p.m. LocalMotion open mic at Fletcher Place Arts & Books, 642 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis. For ages 13 and older. $7. Every second Saturday.

Sunday, May 13
7 - 9 p.m. Poetry on the Fringe. 719 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis Open mic. $7. Every other Sunday.*

Monday, May 14

6:30-8 p.m. Poetry/lyric discussion group at Beech Grove Public Library, 1102 Main Street, Beech Grove. Free. Every second Monday.

Tuesday, May 15

7 - 9 p.m. Poetry Salon. Bring a poem in progress for feedback. Indiana Writers Center, 1125 Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. For information, email indypoetrysalon@gmail.com. First and third Tuesdays.

Thursday, May 17

7 p.m. That Peace Open Mic at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis. Host: Mariah Ivey. $5. Every third Thursday.*

Thursday, May 17

7 p.m. Spoken word open mic at Kafé Kuumba at Harrison Brook Center, 4002 Cornelius Avenue, Indianapolis.Usually $5 admission. http://do317.com/events/weekly/thu/kafe-kuumba every Thursday.

Thursday, May 17

7 p.m. Iconoclast, an open mic series, at the Irving Theatre, 5505 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Free. Special guest: Beau Williams. Host: Devon Ginn.

Friday, May 18
10 a.m.-Noon Famous Writers' Club, a critique and feedback group, at the IndianaWriters Center, E. 1125 Brookside Ave., Indianapolis. Contact: lornadrose@gmail.com or text (317) 935-0056.Meets every first and third Friday.

Saturday, May 19

10 a.m.-Noon Poetry Open Mic at Barnes & Noble Rover Crossing, 8675 River Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis. Contact: Karmen A. Johnson, kaj411legacy@gmail.*

Saturday, May 19

2 – 4 p.m. Garfield Park Poetry Circle meets in the Garfied Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis. Facilitator: Mary Place Godsey. Free. Every third Saturday.

Tuesday, May 22

7 – 9 p.m. Poets Laureate of Lawrence presents a featured poet at Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Avenue, Lawrence. An open reading follows. Free. (Note: Event might be moved next door to the Sterrett Ceter, 8950 Otis Avenue.) Every fourth Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 23

10 a.m.-Noon Write Like a Mother class meets four Wednesdays through June 13. Instructor: Natalie Solmer. Location: Indiana Writers Center, 1125 Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. Cost: $200 nonmembers, $128 members, $112 student members/teacher members/senior members/military members/librarian members. Register online or download and print a registration form. https://www.indianawriters.org/products/write-like-a-mother *

Thursday, May 24

7 p.m. Spoken word open mic at Kafé Kuumba at Harrison Brook Center, 4002 Cornelius Avenue, Indianapolis.Usually $5 admission. http://do317.com/events/weekly/thu/kafe-kuumba every Thursday.*

Thursday, May 24

7 p.m. Iconoclast, an open mic series, at the Irving Theatre, 5505 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Free. Host: Devon Ginn.

Thursday, May 31

7 p.m. Iconoclast, an open mic series, at the Irving Theatre, 5505 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Free. Special guests: RJ Walker and Joso Soto. Host: Devon Ginn.*

Friday, June 1
10 a.m.-Noon Famous Writers' Club, a critique and feedback group, at the IndianaWriters Center, E. 1125 Brookside Ave., Indianapolis. Contact: lornadrose@gmail.com or text (317) 935-0056.Meets every first and third Friday.*

Tuesday, June 5

7 - 9 p.m. Poetry Salon. Bring a poem in progress for feedback. Indiana Writers Center, 1125 Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. For information, email indypoetrysalon@gmail.com. First and third Tuesdays.

Thursday, June 7

7 - 9 p.m. Poetry on Brick Street presents Indiana Poet Laureate Adrian Matejka at SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 225 W. Hawthorne Street, Zionville. Matejka will present one of his students, Chudeni Oputa. Open mic follows. Free. Every first Thursday.*

Saturday, June 9

7 – 10 p.m. LocalMotion open mic at Fletcher Place Arts & Books, 642 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis. For ages 13 and older. $7. Every second Saturday.*

Monday, June 11

6:30-8 p.m. Poetry/lyric discussion group at Beech Grove Public Library, 1102 Main Street, Beech Grove. Free. Every second Monday.*

Wednesday, June 13

6:30 p.m. Creative Writers, Inc. An opportunity for writers to share and learn at Hoosier Salon Gallery, 222 N. Range Line Road, Carmel. Bring a sample of your work. Every second Wednesday.*

Saturday, June 16

2 – 4 p.m. Garfield Park Poetry Circle meets in the Garfied Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis. Facilitator: Mary Place Godsey. Free. Every third Saturday.*

Monday, June 18

7 – 9 p.m. Poetry Matters: A Workshop meets five Mondays through July 16. Instructor: Norman Minnick. Location: Indiana Writers Center, 1125 Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. Cost: $250 nonmembers, $160 members, $140 student members/teacher members/senior members/military members/librarian members. Register online or download and print a registration form. https://www.indianawriters.org/collections/all-classes-workshops/products/poetry-matters-a-workshop*

Tuesday, June 19

7 - 9 p.m. Poetry Salon. Bring a poem in progress for feedback. Indiana Writers Center, 1125 Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. Facilitator: JL Kato. For information, email indypoetrysalon@gmail.com. First and third Tuesdays.*

Wednesday, June 20

7 p.m.-9 p.m. Brick Street South Poetry Series, featuring poets from the Religion, Spirituality & the Arts seminars. Wendy Vegoz, Terry Ofner, and Laura Storrs will read at the Tube Factory and artspace, 1125 Cruft Street, Indianapolis. Open mic follows. Free. Every third Wednesday.*

Tuesday, June 26

7 – 9 p.m. Poets Laureate of Lawrence presents a featured poet at Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Avenue, Lawrence. An open reading follows. Free. (Note: Event might be moved next door to the Sterrett Ceter, 8950 Otis Avenue.) Every fourth Tuesday.*

Local calls for submissions

To include your local call for submissions to publications, contests, etc., send the information to jl.kato@sbcglobal.net. Write "Poetry" in the subject heading. Allow up to four weeks for your notice to appear.

You may bookmark this page to check for updates.

To be updated

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Ongoing / Flying Island

https://indianawriters.submittable.com/submit

Ongoing / The Freeman

http://fee.org/freeman/poetry-guidelinehs/

Ongoing / Indiana Voice Journal

http://www.indianavoicejournal.com/p/blog-page_3914.html

Ongoing / Punchnel's

 http://www.punchnels.com/guidelines/

Closed / So It Goes Literary Journal

http://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/literary-journal/

Ongoing / Tipton Poetry Journal

http://tiptonpoetryjournal.com/submission.html



Closed / Poetry for Children

    Brick Street Poetry Inc. seeks submissions of original children’s poetry--poetry for children written by either adults or kids of any age. Poems submitted must have never been published anywhere before. Poets are permitted to submit a maximum of three poems. 

    Each poem is to be contained to one page of a Microsoft Word document, prepared in Times New Roman 12-point font, with one- inch margins on all four sides. The poet’s contact information - name, address, email and phone number--are to be placed at the top of each page. Preference will be given to poems that contain one or more of the following characters: a frog, a moose, bees and bears. However, poems without these characters will still be considered.

    Deadline: Aug. 31. Please email your submissions to specialprojectsbsp@gmail.com with your poems sent as attachments.

    The poems selected will be published in a book before the end of 2016 and given to children who are patients in Indianapolis hospitals. The cost of publishing was made possible by a grant from the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial Foundation. 

Deadline:Oct. 1 / Irvington Halloween Festival Writing Contest

http://www.irvingtonhalloween.com/writing-contest

Deadline: Oct. 3

VOICES2016 Speak Your Peace Poetry Slam: http://voicescorp.org/poetry-slam/

Deadline: Jan. 31, 2017

Mannigham Studenr Contest for Indiana schoolkids: http://www.isfpc.org/manningham-student-contest.html


Deadline: March 31, 2017 / Booth 

https://booth.submittable.com/submit

Diane Lewis

Diane Lewis, poet and volunteer coordinator for Asante Children's Theatre, died Sunday, Sept. 11. Funeral details are forthcoming.

Diane Lucille Lewis

57, peacefully passed into the Lord's Hands September 11, 2016 at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. She is survived by her only son, Christopher Jemel Weaver and daughter-in-law, Vanessa Weaver. She was best known for her work with the Asante Children's Theatre, where she served as an executive assistant and volunteer coordinator.

For details regarding the Celebration of Life Memorial Service and Memorial Donations, please visit www.facebook.com/diane.lewis.9212 

Arrangements are being handled by Bell Mortuary & Crematory, Royster-Askin-Sandrock Chapel, Indianapolis, IN. Online condolences can be made at

www.bellmortuary.com

Published in the The Indianapolis Star on Sept. 18, 2016

Public observance:

Wednesday, Sept. 21

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Celebration of Life Memorial for Diane L. Lewis at Madame Walker Theatre Center, 617 Indiana Ave.

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Mari Evans mural

7/7/16: Indy Star article on the prgress of the Mari Evans mural at 448 Mass Ave.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/07/07/new-mass-ave-mural-honor-indy-poet-near-vonnegut/86778750/

Poetry landmarks in central Indiana

Note: All addresses are for Indianapolis, unless otherwise stated.

If you know of a landmark, send its location to jl.kato@sbcglobal.net and place "Poetry landmark" in the title field. The landmark must be a poetry display or a marker that refers to a poet or his/her accomplishment.

Last updated 9/3/15. New listing in the visual art section.


Cemetery

Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St.: Grave sites of James Whitcomb Riley, Etheridge Knight, Meredith Nicholson, and Sarah T. Bolton. Maps available at main office. (317) 925-3800


Museums and Homes

Indiana Humanities, 1500 N. Delaware St., was the home of Meredith Nicholson. Info: (317) 638-1500 or http://indianahumanities.org/about-us/meredith-nicholson-house/

James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home and Visitor Center, 528 Lockerbie St., Indianapolis, (317) 631-5885. Info:  http://www.rileykids.org/about/riley-museum-home/?referrer=https://www.google.com/#.VZ_i4vlVhBc

James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum, 250 W. Main St., Greenfield, (317) 462-8539. Info: http://www.jwrileyhome.org/


Public Poetry

Cottage Home Neighborhhood features "Cottage Home," by Thomas Alan Orr, in a display at a pocket park on the 700 block of Dorman Street (south of St.Clair St.).

Indianapolis Cultural Trail features seven bus stops designed by architect Donna Sink, with poetry from local residents. The bus stops and their poems are:

• Virginia Avenue near Woodlawn Avenue (outside of Naisa Pan Asian Restaurant): "The Painters," by Richard Pflum
• Virginia Avenue near McCarty Street (outside of Chilly Water Brewing Co.): "Invisible Moments," by Karen Kovacik
• Virginia Avenue near Lexington Avenue (just outside of the Mozzo Apartments): "The Bowl of Possible Peas," by John Sherman
• Washington Street near the Indiana State Museum and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art: "Settlement," by Micah Ling
• Washington Street, west of Illinois Street and the Indianapolis Artsgarden: "Circle, Circle," by Mitchell L.H. Douglas
• Massachusetts Avenue at Walnut and Park streets: "Art With a Heart," by Vienna Wagner
• Massachusetts Avenue, east of College Avenue: "Our Street in Endless Circles," by Jenny Brown

     Info: http://indyculturaltrail.org/ictart/moving-forward/

• Poet's Place, on Alabama Street, between Vermont and New York streets, in front of Fresco Italian Sandwich Shoppe, was designated in honor of Jim Shackleford, the Cultural Trail's unofficial poet. "City Generation," by Elizabeth Weber, is displayed here.

     Info: http://indyculturaltrail.org/ictart/poets-place/

Indianapolis International Airport, 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive, features stained-glass window art by Martin Donlin, which has words and lines of poems from five Indiana writers. (317) 487-9584.

     Along Concourse A are:

• Night, with poem "Echoes," by Ruthelen Burns
• Midnight Flight, with poem by Joyce Brinkman
• Back in Indiana, with poem by Norbert Krapf

     In Concourse B is:

• Indiana Flight, with poem by Joseph Heithaus

     Note: No information on Jeannie Deeter Smith's poem. No information on Mari Evans poem.

     Photos: http://martindonlin.com/portfolio/new-indianapolis-airport-indiana-usa/

Indianapolis-Marion County Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., features Arlon
 Bayliss' artwork using dichronic
 glass.
 
Light,
 Words,
 Life,
 located
 in
 the
 upper
 parking
 garage
 elevator
 lobby,
 features
 a 
poet
 written
 by
 Joyce 
Brinkman.

 (317) 275-4100.

Terre Haute: Max Erhmann at the Crossroads, by Bill Wolfe, at the intersection of Seventh Street and Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute. Visitors can pose and sit on a bench with Max. Also, excerpts from his most famous poem, "Desiderata," appear on plaques embedded in the plaza. Photos and info:  http://wabashvalleyartspaces.com/maxview1.html

Word Hunger was a project of Brick Street Poetry to encourage a discussion of food production. Poems and artwork were placed on barns and agricultural buildings throughout the state, Sponsored by Indiana Humanities.

• Putnam County (near Crawfordsville): Joseph Heithaus' poem "What Grows Here" appears on a barn on West County Road Road 125 South. Painted by Ken Torr. http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1674013.htm
• Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Ruthelen Burns' poem.
• Other site descriptions to come. (See note at bottom.)

The Freeman has a new poetry editor: Sarah Skwire

The following is a note from Sarah Skwire:

Writerly types!

I am now going to be handling poetry submissions for the good folks at the Freeman. That means you know the poetry editor! Send me good stuff--liberty related or not. I like formal verse and free verse. I like elegant and exciting use of language.

The things I want to read do what e.e.cummings said here:

"At least my theory of technique, if I have one, is very far from original; nor is it complicated. I can express it in fifteen words, by quoting The Eternal Question And Immortal Answer. of burlesk, viz., 'Would you hit a woman with a child?-No, I'd hit her with a brick.' Like the burlesk comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement."

Accepted poems get $50, publication online, and possible inclusion in the print quarterly. If you're included in the print version, we'll send you a copy of the issue in which your poem appears.

Submissions should go to: poetry@fee.org

Full submission guidelines are available here. Ignore them at your peril:

http://fee.org/freeman/poetry-guidelines/

4th Friday Spoken Word event rescheduled to Oct. 30

The following event has been moved back from Friday, Oct. 23, to Friday, Oct. 30, according to host Gregg DeBoor.


7 p.m.-10 p.m. 4th Friday Spoken Word and Open Mic at Coal Yard Coffee, 5547 Bonna Ave. Featured poets include Dante Fratturo, Helen Townsend, and Lisa Devon. Free. Host: Gregory DeBoor. Info: (317) 777-1161. This is the last poetry program before the coffeeshop is closed for construction.

Venue changes

The Lawrence Art Center, home of the Poets Laureate of Lawrence readings, has moved to 8910 Otis Avenue in the former Fort Benjamin Harrison complex. 

Coal Yard Coffee, home of monthly poetry readings hosted by Greggory DeBoor, will close for construction after its last event Friday, Oct. 30. According to DeBoor, the shop will move farther south at the Ice House complex, 400 block of South Ritter Avenue. According to a barista at the shop, no decision on moving has been made.

A new poetry venue has open at the Garfield Eatery and Coffee, 2627 Shelby St. Greggory DeBoor is hosting two poetry events on the first and third Fridays of the month. Besides featured readers and an open mic, a poetry slam for cash prizes will be offered. Non-poet performers (such as musicians and comedians) will also share the stage.  

Award for Helen Townsend

Helen Townsend garnered a third-place award in the Poetry Super Highway poetry contest. Read her winning poem here.

List of contest winners for the ISFPC's 37th Annual Fall Rendezvous

Winners’ List of 37th Annual Fall Rendezvous Poetry Contest Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs (ISFPC) ~ October 9 through 11, 2015.

http://www.isfpc.org/uploads/1/0/8/4/10842551/winnerslist_pdf_2015_isfpc_fall_rendezvous_poetry_contest__1_.pdf

Indiana Authors Award wrap-up

http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/aroundtown/article_766436da-71bb-11e5-876c-dfa2e77ebfcb.html

Four authors with Indiana ties have been honored as winners of the 2015 Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award. Winners were recognized at the Indiana Authors Award Dinner on October 10 at Central Library.

Widely-acclaimed poet and Purdue University Professor of English Marianne Boruch was recognized as the National Author Award Winner. Fellow poet and Pike High School graduate Adrian Matejka was recognized as the Regional Author Award Winner. Short story novelist and Indiana University graduate Clifford Garstang was named Emerging Author Winner. A Lifetime Achievement Honor, only the second ever given to an author who has exemplified great achievement over several decades, was presented to Indianapolis’ Mari Evans, a monumental figure in poetry and education who helped shape women’s history, politics and drama.

Each Indiana Authors Award winner receives a cash prize and can select an Indiana public library to receive a $2,500 grant from The Indianapolis Public Library. Since the Award’s inception in 2009, winning authors have received a total of $157,500, and their designated libraries have received $57,500 in grants.

“The Glick Fund is proud to celebrate these talented authors,” said Marianne Glick, Director at the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation. “We hope that the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award serves as an inspiration and encouragement for the next generation of Indiana writers.”

Indiana Authors Award nominations were submitted in the spring of 2015, and an eight-member statewide award panel selected the winners. Any published writer born in Indiana or who has lived in Indiana for at least five years was eligible.

Nominations for the 2016 Indiana Authors Award will open on February 1, 2016. To learn more, contact the Library Foundation at (317) 275-4700 or visit Indianaauthorsaward.org.

© 2015 Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, br

Poetry benefit this weekend

These two teenagaers were shot and found dad in a car.

Story: http://fox59.com/2015/10/04/person-shot-on-near-northwest-side-late-sunday/

Friday's musings (Oct. 2,2015)

Because it is October and everything scary, I am waging a one-man campaign to expose the public misspellings of Edgar Allan Poe's name. On my Facebook page, I complained about the Ballet Theatre of Indiana and NUVO Newsweekly, both of whom used "Edgar Allen Poe" recently.

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Late notices:

• I have not come across any information about the schedule for the Rufus and Louise Reiberg Reading Series at IUPUI. Anyone have any information?
• Also missing is the promised information of the 2016 Max Erhmann Poetry Contest, sponsored by Art Spaces, Inc. in Terre Haute. The organization's website.  promised details in September.

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October 7 is Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day. This is a new one on me. Any local events planned? Or should we expect unannounced pop-up events throughout the day?

=================================================================

On Wednesday afternoon, I attended a poetry reading given by Adrian Matejka at the Pike Branch Library, where I became reacquainted with Kyle Craig and Rachel Sahaidachny. 
We were the only "outsiders" to attend. The rest were library staff and Adrian's family. Adrian was gracious, taking time to chat with each of us before reading his persona poems about boxer Jack Johnson,which included vintage videos.

We learned that Adrian was 1990 Pike High School grad who did not write poetry until he took a class at Indiana University (where he now teaches). He moved to Seattle but slowly made his way back to the Midwest. His mother revealed Adrian wrote a book when was 10 years old.

Given the horrible start time (3:30 p.m.) and minuscule publicity, it was a wonder that even we three showed up. But I urge you to grab the next opportunity to hear him.

Nikki Giovanni highlights Fall Fest 2015

From the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library website:

Nikki Giovanni Headlines Fall Fest 2015!

Families and individuals of all ages are invited for an afternoon of inspiration and cultural entertainment during "Fall Fest 2015," on Saturday, November 21 from 12 noon - 4 p.m. at Central Library in the Clowes Auditorium, 40 E. St. Clair Street.

Highlighting the event will be a lecture by world renowned poet, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni (2:10 p.m.). In addition to having her works appear on The New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists, Giovanni has been awarded an unprecedented seven NAACP Image Awards, nominated for a Grammy and been a finalist for the National Book Award. She is currently a Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech University. Booksignings (3:30 p.m.) will follow the event. Books will be provided by Donna Stokes-Lucas.

The afternoon also will feature the winners of the teen Slammin’ Rhymes Challenge X who will be presented their awards by Nikki Giovanni (2:55 p.m.), as well as performances by North Star Capoeira, a martial art that combines acrobatics and dance with music (12:10 p.m.); the SITEAW Basket Balancing Race, a fun and educational sport that stems from African culture (12:35 p.m.); Indy Air Bears, an electrifying competitive jump rope team (1 p.m.); Krash Krew, an inspirational and edgy dance group (1:25 p.m.); and inspired poetry readings by the Brave Youth Society (1:55 p.m.).

"Fall Fest 2015" is presented by The Indianapolis Public Library's African-American History Committee and is made possible by the Donna D. Talley Story Theatre Fund, the Dr. Michael R. Twyman Endowment Fund, and Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Call 275-4099 for more information about this free Library event.

Slam poetry helps Belzer students stand and be heard

http://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/slam-poetry

Slam Poetry Is Helping Belzer Students Stand And Be Heard

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LEIGH DENOON  

INDIANAPOLIS -- Trust, respect, friendship and Slam Poetry have found a home in a Belzer Middle School classroom in Lawrence Township. In a short few weeks, 25 students have been transformed into confident speakers of their truths.

Camea Davis is a Belzer language arts teacher and co-founder of Indy Pulse - a slam poetry organization dedicated to creating time and space for kids to express themselves. Slam poetry at Belzer started as a club, but the principal saw the impact it was having and asked Davis if she would teach it – so it has become an elective.

"Slam poetry is a derivative of traditional poetry but it’s in the vernacular of urban, young people. It’s a style of poetry where people can express themselves in their natural way of speaking and it’s very performative," Davis said. "Regular poetry is meant for the page. Slam Poetry is meant for the stage.”

To get ready for the stage, the kids work on performance skills. The class stands in a circle clapping and calling the name of a person across the circle. 

“We’re clapping because when you perform it may be loud – so you have to put your voice across the circle. So what they’re learning is – how to work in a community because there is a rhythm and they have to keep the rhythm in unison," Davis said. "They’re learning performance stance – how do I look and stand in front of a group people. They’re learning voice – how to articulate because they have to say something across the circle. How do I project my voice? How do I say something?”

Davis prompts the poetry writing with questions like what color represents the feeling of your mother? If you were a monster, what would you be? And where do you feel safe?

“I’m always surprised about the honesty...Even today, one student - she’s writing a poem about how she was born a crack baby. And to say that in front of your peers, kids that can very easily make fun of you, and it’s such a vulnerable topic cause it says something about your family and where you live and all that," Davis said. "And I was just like 'wow' and she would just do it – and be confident about doing it. So I’m really excited and surprised and then proud of them for being able to write these stories.”

It's about building trust and the students get it. Davis is small in stature, but highly respected.

“She’s not like every other teacher because, you know, every other teacher is just rude and mean and give you assignments after assignments and stuff like that," eighth grader Antwone Haslett said. "But she’s like, she’ll be your teacher, but she’ll be your friend at the same time. So I think that’s pretty cool.”

DaZhane’ Jones says the Slam Poetry class is the highlight of her day.

“I feel happy ‘cause…as an example today, I wasn’t feeling so well and I was like upset." DaZhane' said. "But when I come here, all my fears and hurt goes away and I can be myself without no judgment.”

Davis says building that trusting culture is her number one priority.

“The first two weeks of school all we’re doing is sharing stories about our lives our families, our likes, our dislikes. And they really get to know each other,” she said.

One by one – Davis’ students step up to the microphone in a performance classroom filled with fellow students and family members. Nathan Terhune’s dystopian sounding poem talks of a man emerging and inspiring people to become poets. 

For Nathan, in real life, Davis plays the role of the man in his poem. 

“If Miss Davis stays here a while she could very well be inspiring a new generation of poets,” he said.

An Indy Pulse Slam Poetry competition will be held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Thursday, Nov. 5.

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This story is part of WFYI's American Graduate initiative. Tune in Saturday, October 3 to 90.1 FM, and WFYI One (20.1) for a day of education programming that explores efforts to raise the high-school graduation rate and improve student outcomes.