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Poetry Jams in the Jails!

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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, and for the SC Poetry Project Volunteers. The program director and program coordinators usually attend, as well as other guests. It's also an opportunity for other residents to see how much fun poetry can be!

 

We generally do these Jams in conjunction with the publishing of a new anthology. We held three jams in September 2023, and also in November of 2024 to celebrate the publication of Volume 15. 

Santa Cruz Poetry Project

Santa Cruz Public Library

Downtown Branch
Life Literacies Center
EVERY MONDAY
4-5:30PM

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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.

Class Schedule 2024

We have resumed our partnership with the Santa Cruz Public Library's Life Literacy Center (see above).

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There are two men's classes in Watsonville: Unit R Rountree, and R&R (Rehabilitation & Reentry).

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We are teaching two classes at the Main Jail facility in Downtown Santa Cruz: one for men, and one for women.

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We teach a weekly class at Blaine Street Women's Facility.

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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.

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For the Seventh Generation
An Oceans Festival in Lincoln City OR

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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.

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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

Benefit for Poetry in the Jails 2019

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

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