Three Poets Laureate Speak: An Evening Celebrating the Power of Poetry
April 24 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm CDT
Free
The Little Carver Civic Center
226 N Hackberry St, San Antonio, TX 78202
“This production is not a presentation of the Carver Community Cultural Center or the Carver Development Board.”
RSVP HERE. Space is limited.
Don’t miss an unforgettable night showcasing three powerful women poets!
Celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading, discussion, and book signing with 2020-23 San Antonio Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, 2024 Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston, and 2012-2014 U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey.
These three distinguished Black women poets will discuss the contributions of African-American writers today and their roles as advocates who use poetry to uplift their communities. Each of these literary leaders will discuss their own poetic journeys and represent their respective roles as the 2020-2023 San Antonio Poet Laureate, the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate, and, in the case of Ms. Trethewey, the 2012-2014 U.S. Poet Laureate and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner in Poetry. Slam champion and current Houston Poet Laureate, Aris Kian Brown, will bring her own magic to the night as our featured moderator. This event will highlight the unique role poetry can play in helping us ignite our creative voice.
Each of these poets breaks new ground and asks difficult questions through their work; questions that encourage empathy and resilience, while not shying away from the realities of being Black women writers in contemporary America. Join us for this intellectually engaging evening celebrating poetry and the transformative and joyful ways poetry impacts our communities.
Light refreshments will be served.
Panelists
Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson is a dynamic poet, singer, and spoken word artist from San Antonio, Texas. Known for her powerful performances and lyrical prowess, Sanderson has been a driving force in the local arts community, advocating for the power of words to inspire and heal. She served as the Poet Laureate of San Antonio (2020-2023), using her platform to uplift marginalized voices and foster creativity across the city. In 2021, she received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship for her legacy project, The Echo Project, which was featured on KLRN. Vocab’s debut book, She Lives In Music, was published by Flower Song Press (2020), and her albums are available for streaming on all music platforms. Her second collection of poems, The Seasoned Woman, is forthcoming from Gnashing Teeth Press. Her work, which blends poetry with music and activism, resonates deeply with audiences, addressing themes of social justice, love, and resilience.
Amanda Johnston, 2024 Texas Poet Laureate, is an acclaimed poet, educator, and advocate for social justice. She is the author of Another Way to Say Enter (Argus House Press 2017), and her poetry has been widely recognized for its emotional depth and unflinching exploration of identity, race, and gender. Johnston is the founder of Torch Literary Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the work of Black women and girls in literature. Named one of Blavity’s “13 Black Poets You Should Know,” Amanda’s work has been featured on Bill Moyers, the Poetry Society of America’s series “In Their Own Words,” The Moth Radio Hour, and the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day series. Her work has also appeared in numerous online and print publications, among them Callaloo, Poetry Magazine, Puerto del Sol, Muzzle, and the anthologies Furious Flower: Seeding the Future of African American Poetry and Women of Resistance: Poems for a New Feminism. With a passion for empowering others, she has taught creative writing in various settings and is a Cave Canem fellow. Johnston’s work continues to influence and inspire new and established voices in the literary world.
Natasha Trethewey is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate (2012-14), who is celebrated for her profound exploration of history, memory, and identity. Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Trethewey’s work often delves into the complexities of the American South, weaving together personal and collective histories. She is the author of several acclaimed collections, including Native Guard, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2007. Having also served as the Poet Laureate of the State of Mississippi (2012-2016), she is the author of the New York Times bestseller Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir (2020); and a book of nonfiction, Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (2010). Trethewey’s lyrical and evocative poetry has earned her numerous accolades and a reputation as one of the most important voices in contemporary American literature. Her writing offers a powerful meditation on the intersection of race, trauma, and resilience.
Moderator
Aris Kian Brown is a Houston enthusiast and student of abolition. She ranked #2 in the 2023 Womxn of the World Poetry Slam and #1 at the 2024 Southern Fried Poetry Slam with her team Smoke Slam. Her poems are published with Button Poetry, West Branch, Obsidian Lit and elsewhere. She received her MFA from the University of Houston and currently serves as the 2023-2025 Houston Poet Laureate.
