April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate, we are throwing a Virtual Poetry Jam! When we were asked about a theme for the event, we were caught off guard. On one hand, a theme would help Creators write new material instead of leaning on a poem or story that might have already received peer approval. On the other hand, we also didn’t want to box Creators into categories that may or may not be their work’s natural voice, resulting in that Creator choosing not to participate.

We want our first virtual collaborative event for The Calabash Community to be inclusive, rich with diverse words and voices, and just f*cking epic! We want to go Beyond the (check) Boxes! 

You might have noticed that we’re calling this event a Poetry Jam instead of a poetry slam. That’s intentional. Our mission with Laughing Goddess Media and all of our shenanigans is to create spaces of collaboration NOT competition! We are committed to nurturing Artists and audiences through creative expression that connects, inspires, and uplifts individuals and communities.

So yes. The “theme” is broad and that’s intentional too.  The idea is not to limit you in order to fit in, but instead to ask you to enter your unique zone of genius and just play!  You are more than welcome to share a piece you’ve already written but let’s expand beyond the categories we are so often given as a way to group ideas together. Or…

Let’s just check ALL the boxes while we create something magical together!!