The Poetic Convergence is a one-day convening of teachers, student leaders, arts champions, and poetic giants for the purpose of creating and sustaining poetic communities inside Los Angeles county schools and their neighborhoods.

The Poetic Convergence offers attendees interactive workshops, engaging keynotes, and youth-led town halls to build community and creativity among our schools. Want to partake in this transformative event? Join us to positively shift the educational experiences and outcomes of our youth.

LAST YEAR'S EVENT SCHEDULE:

9:00-9:15 – Log In + Review Materials

9:15-9:25 – Opening + Agenda

9:30-11:30 – Patricia Smith Keynote + Workshop: “Writing a Poem No One Wants To Hear.”

12:00-12:30 – How to Ignite Distance Learning with Get Lit Staff

12:30-2:00 – Anti-Racism and The Body with Practice Progress (Teachers only)

12:30 – 2:00 – Saying Thank You, Say I’m Sorry: Responding to the World Now (Students only)

2:15-3:00 – Closing Circle Ceremony with Mason Granger

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS:

Patricia Smith will present a keynote on how to write a poem that absolutely no one wants to hear. There will be a workshop and Q & A following her address.

Igniting Distanced Education. Get Lit will highlight new practices and programming to keep distance learning engaging and interactive while keeping student expression at the center.

Anti-Racism and The Body. Participants will work in race-based affinity groups in order to create learning environments where people of color and white educations can process their different racialized experiences in knowing company. The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color gathering will prioritize embodied release, care, and rest, while the circle of white educators and students will focus on building personal and relational awareness around race and racism. EDUCATORS ONLY.

Say Thank You Say Sorry: Responding to the World Now. This workshop based on Get Lit’s Classic and Response model asks students to reflect on gratitude, forgiveness, and share how we can better support them in these brave new times. STUDENTS ONLY.

Closing Circle and Celebration will give participants a chance to reflect, write and share thoughts to continue the day’s dialogue and kick off the new year with curiosity, courage and creativity.