Poetry with Purpose. Culture at the Core

Be a part of the First Annual KC Summer Poetry Lab on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, a two-day immersive experience for poets and writers who want to deepen their creative practice while exploring identity, heritage, and voice. Whether you're a lifelong poet or a curious newcomer, this free weekend offers meaningful engagement, cultural reflection, and a path toward poetic growth.

What to Expect:

  • Four expert-led sessions over two days

  • A mix of lecture, discussion, writing, and feedback

  • Snacks, community and space to connect with others in an emotional level through poetry

  • A completed poem you’ll feel confident about!

  • A No Divide KC certificate of completion as proof of your commitment and acquired education.

Why Attend?

  • Get published! Be a part of Our Identidad, the yearly multicultural anthology by No Divide KC

  • Free to attend with simple sign-up

  • Small-group format with limited spaces to ensure individual attention

  • Led by four acclaimed Kansas City poets that will stay the whole weekend with you guiding you through the hoops and loops of a deeply involve practice

  • Centering cultural perspective, community, and craft

  • Open to all levels – from emerging to experienced writers

Reserve Your Spot: Spots are limited. Sign up by August 3 to guarantee your place.

Location: Zhou B Art Center
Cost: Free
Sign-Up Deadline: August 3
Contact: waleska@nodividekc.or

Meet the team

Melissa Ferrer Civil (she/they)

Revision Strategies

Melissa, Kansas City’s inaugural Poet Laureate, offers deep expertise in both craft and community. With multiple degrees in creative writing and education, Melissa’s approach to poetry is rooted in possibility and reflection. Their experience as a performer, educator, and organizer ensures a thoughtful and empowering revision session. Participants will benefit from Melissa’s ability to turn a first draft into something refined and resonant, all while honoring the writer’s unique voice and vision.

Abby Bland (she/they)

Generative Writing

Abby is a poet and comedian who transforms vulnerability into vibrant, fearless poetry. With accolades including “Best of Venue” at the 2023 KC Fringe Festival and two-time “Best Spoken Word Artist” by The Pitch, Abby brings unmatched energy and imagination to the page. Their generative workshop will unlock your creativity using humor, pop culture, and raw honesty as access points. Abby’s work proves that even the messiest stories can become beautiful art, making them the perfect leader for helping participants dive in and generate bold new poems.

Mary Silwance

Cultural Relevance in Poetry

Mary brings a profound global and environmental lens to poetry, making her the perfect guide for our session on cultural relevance. Originally from Egypt and deeply rooted in Kansas City's creative and ecological communities, Mary draws from a life steeped in varied experiences—motherhood, farming, education, and activism. She’s an internationally published, award-winning writer and serves on the editorial team for Kansas City Voices. Her ability to explore identity through the intertwined layers of justice, spirituality, and nature makes her uniquely equipped to help participants ground their work in authentic cultural context.

Kourtney Cunningham

Performance & Slam Poetry

AKA Taboo The Poet, known offstage as Kourtney, is a fearless performance poet who uses the mic to spotlight truth. A rising force in Kansas City’s slam scene, she’s won four local slams and represents the city with the Fountain City Poets Slam Team. Her work confronts mental health, addiction, and sexual violence, topics often left unspoken. In her session, participants will learn how to bring their poems to life on stage with power and authenticity, transforming silence into strength.

“Our Identidad” Annual Anthology

A published bilingual collection showcasing the writing, stories, and photos from our program participants and events.


All contributors receive a physical copy, and we celebrate the release with a public showcase where local and student poets read their work.

 
 

The Bicultural Poetry Program (BPP) is a community-powered initiative by No Divide KC that fosters cultural exchange and supports emerging bilingual poets across Missouri. Through immersive workshops, collaborative events, and creative publishing opportunities, BPP empowers participants to express their identities, celebrate multilingual voices, and explore poetry as a tool for healing, advocacy, and connection.

Our program bridges the arts with education and mental wellness, using poetry to create space for reflection, dialogue, and transformation—both individually and collectively