Poetry Jams in the Jails!
One of the many advantages to being able to teach in-person classes in the facilities is being able to hold Poetry Jams! This is an opportunity for the students to "perform" for each other, for others in their units (depending on the facility), and for the SC Poetry Project Volunteers. The program director and program coordinators usually attend, as well as other guests.
We generally do these Jams in conjunction with the publishing of a new anthology. Therefore, we have three jams coming up in September 2023! Although we cannot invite the public at large, we love to keep you informed of what we are up to!
Santa Cruz Poetry Project
Santa Cruz Public Library
Downtown Branch
Life Literacies Center
EVERY MONDAY
4-5:30PM
The Santa Cruz Poetry Project facilitates poetry and writing workshops throughout Santa Cruz County with the mission to bring poetry to underserved populations. We do this through our Poetry in the Jails project, which offers poetry workshops to incarcerated men and women. We are pleased to once again bring workshops to the downtown library, in partnership with the Life Literacies Center. Anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment is welcome.
All library programs are free.
For the Seventh Generation
An Oceans Festival in Lincoln City OR
In early 2021, were asked to submit our students' work for an oceans festival taking place in Lincoln City, OR. We set them the challenge to write about specific beaches that meant a lot to them. Four poets were chosen, Justin Marc, R. Walsh, Chad Bachman, and Bennett Healy. We are so proud of their efforts and creativity!
The reading took place on July 22, 2021. We will post a link to a video of the reading. Click on the photo above for a link to the event Web site.
Class Schedule 2023
We resumed in-person classes in May 2022. We also have resumed our partnership with the Santa Cruz Public Library's Life Literacy Center (see above).
There are two men's classes in Watsonville: Unit R Rountree, and R&R (Rehabilitation & Reentry).
We are teaching two classes at the Main Jail facility in Downtown Santa Cruz: one for men, and one for women.
The Blaine Street Women's Facility has been re-opened and we are currently conducting classes there.
We have very much appreciated the dedication of the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office in keeping the programs going, with some (and sometimes many) logistical challenges, throughout the COVID pandemic and as we move forward.
Benefit for Poetry in the Jails 2019
Bellydance Basics
Bargetto Winery
Comicopolis
La Posta
Elizabeth Good
Max Gavrich
Laurie Guerin
Gail Newman
Many Hands Gallery
Tauna Coulson
Shakespeare Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Warriors
Briya Leung
Noelle Weatherwax
Concrete Rose Hair Salon
Megan Welch
Dion O’Reilly
Aldo’s Bakery
Faust Hair Salon
Sydney
Scott Thornburg
Sebastian DeEldon
Emily Keinholz
Buttercup Bakery
The Food Lounge
Andrea Mollenauer
Lampwork Glass
Jackie Marr
Cindy Mori
Kate Nolan
Logan Austeja Daniel
Lindsay Spencer
Jory Post
phren-Z
Kate Tripp
Robert Sward
Kiss My Glass
Luma Yoga
John Orlando Distinguished
Artist Series
Our July 2019 event was a success! Thank you to everyone who donated their time and talents to organizing and carrying out the event, and who donated items to our silent auction.
Gary Young
Tess Taylor
Danusha Lameris
Amanda Moore
Renee Winter
Deb Culmer
Erik Anderson
Jaime Zuder
Journey Employer Solutions
Tina Cervin
Ken Haas
The Becker Foundation
Barbara Leon
Cindy White
Idea Fabrication Lab
Ellen Bass
Nancy Miller Gomez
1440 Multiversity
Janet Bryer
Sally Neas
Max Bryer-Bass
Joel Gomez
Laurie Brooks
The William James Association
The Santa Cruz Arts Council
Alfaro Winery
Missy Schnapps
Salon on the Square
Jewel Theater
Jim Potterton
David Van Brink
Soif
Kim Beecher
Tri-Yoga Center Santa Cruz
Powell Peralta
SkullCandy
Ruth Smith
SeSe Geddes
Ashlie Sadri