Poetry Slam For Peace
We understand the crucial role creative communities play in this expanding reality to which we’ve been introduced. Slam Poets communicate through performance art expressing time and place in unique and powerful ways. Poetry Slams empower through the mastery of literacy and language – “If you don’t learn to write your own life story, someone else will write it for you”.
Poetry Slams are recognized among people of diverse backgrounds as a democratizing force, encompassing all manner of individual and poetic voices. Using allusions to contemporary popular culture, artists provide a medium for crafting communication, venting emotion, and creating art. Poetry Slams are performed in constructive atmospheres of equality, sensitivity and progress, encouraging discussion, creativity, empowerment and alliance.
The Poetry Slam for Peace is not a competition; rather it encompasses individual poetic voices focusing on creativity, diversity, and authenticity, fostering an atmosphere of equality and progress. The artists communicate to encourage dialogue and collaboration, signifying a strong emotional resonance with the values of peace, unity, and social awareness – with a strong commitment to social empowerment through dynamic and diverse cultural exchanges.
Now in its 8th year, the 2024 Poetry Slam for Peace is a virtual, pre-recorded event that will broadcast globally on September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace, along with local, live events at various locations around the world.
Design, Vanessa Bowen, Bowen Creative — Design with an Indigenous Perspective
This textile pattern features the yéʼiibeichei, human dancers personifying the Holy People, known as Ye’ii. The yéʼiibeichei are utilized during ceremonies to restore Hózhó into a person’s life.
Hózhó, also referred to as “walking in beauty”, personifies beauty and harmony, and is central to Diné life and thought. Hózhó extends beyond ourselves, recognizing the universal connection to each other, the natural world, and into the spiritual aspects of experience which moves beyond what our senses can perceive. Hózhó is deeply personal and is a constant pursuit of balance and goodness in our life.
The Navajo belief of Hózhó, also referred to as “walking in beauty”, personifies beauty and harmony, and is central to Diné life and thought. Hózhó extends beyond ourselves, recognizing the universal connection to each other, the natural world, and into the spiritual aspects of experience which moves beyond what our senses can perceive. Hózhó is deeply personal and is a constant pursuit of balance and goodness in our life.
The Poetry Slam for Peace is not a competition. It is an intergenerational and intercultural platform reaching across traditional demographics to encourage dialogue and collaboration, resonating with the values of peace, unity, and social empowerment through dynamic and diverse cultural exchanges.
Beginning eight years ago with a performance at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café, a cultural icon on New York’s Lower East Side, the Poetry Slam for Peace has built a presence as part of a global community.
We have a library of over 50 original Poetry Slam for Peace performances with poets from 24 countries and native American communities that can be re-purposed on social media platforms, have created a series of unique artist-designed posters, greatly enhanced our production capabilities, and have access to distribution platforms with global reach.
In September 2024 Poetry Slam for Peace videos were shown during the 24-hour global broadcast of Unite 4 Peace on the International Day of Peace. In December 2024 the first Poetry Slam for Peace will take place outside of the United States, as part of the International Poetry Festival in Greece. On January 18, 2025, we will return to our roots, with a live event at the Continental Club in Oakland, CA., that will be recorded for broadcast two weeks later. Next year there will be many more Poetry Slams for Peace around the world.
Every voice matters
Every story heals
Every poem builds
The future we believe in
Creative communities play a crucial role in these transformative times. Slam Poets and Spoken Word Artists contribute in unique and powerful ways, communicating through performance art and unique expressions of place, from the grassroots, authentic, timely, and current. Poetry Slams empower through the mastery of literacy and language – “If you don’t learn to write your own life story, someone else will write it for you”.
Beginning eight years ago with a performance at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café, a cultural icon on New York’s Lower East Side, our progress over the past seven years has demonstrated proof of concept as a distinctive, impactful, and inspiring program, readily scalable, with content that can be re-purposed on social media platforms for years after the original broadcast.
We have established a presence as part of a global community. We have a library of over 60 original Poetry Slam for Peace performances from poets in 24 countries and native American communities that can be re-purposed on social media platforms, have created a series of unique artist-designed posters, greatly enhanced our production capabilities, and have access to distribution platforms with global reach.
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In September 2024 Poetry Slam for Peace videos were shown during the 24-hour broadcast global broadcast of Unite 4 Peace on the International Day of Peace. In December 2024 the first Poetry Slam for Peace outside of the United States took part in the International Poetry Festival in Greece. This year so far the Poetry Slam for Peace will be part of the World Poetry Slam Championship taking place in Europe, and the largest poetry festival in South Africa in September.
On January 18, 2025 the first major live event was held at the Continental Club in Oakland, CA. It was a collaboration of the local creative community and a celebration of poetry and of place. Oakland serves as a model for poetry slams for peace around the world. After seven years, there are now poetry slams for peace being performed around the world, locally produced and funded, and connected with a growing global community.
In the fall we are returning to our roots with a program in New York City, catalyzing collective action around the United Nations International Day of Peace as part of a global broadcast during Peace Weekend in September.
2025 Poetry Slam for Peace Oakland
Actions for Peace
Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World
Have you Heard About Interfaith Harmony Week?
World Interfaith Harmony Week is a UN resolution for a worldwide week of interfaith harmony proposed in 2010 by King Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill according to their own religious traditions.
2018 Poetry Slam for Peace
The Assemblage - NYC
The First Poetry Slam for Peace
2017 - Nuyorican Poets Cafe
