Mission Statement
Public Poetry showcases the enduring power of poetry, conveying poetry’s range, relevance and reach throughout the year. Working locally, nationally and internationally, we sustain diverse minority voices, layer multiple genres, encourage collaboration, commission new work, and create new opportunities and paid work for poets. We initiate collaborative partnerships and engagement to enrich the community and to deliver poetry to audiences in Houston and beyond.
Public Poetry is committed to inclusivity and diversity as a core value that determines how we operate as an organization; how we develop and implement our programs and projects; and how we activate our community outreach. We actively strive to create a social ecosystem where mutual respect thrives; where cultural and physical differences are acknowledged and enabled; and where social justice and anti-racist values are manifest.
Our vision is to explore the power of poetry; to spread appreciation and enjoyment of poetry, to bring high-quality poetry events to public venues; to promote a diverse mix of poetry including academia, spoken word, and youth, featuring well-regarded local poets, as well as regional, national and international voices, and to increase awareness of poetry’s varied forms and applications among non-poets and poets alike.