KC CODE SWITCHERS

A BIPOC Poetry Experience

Join us every first Thursday for an evening of poetry, reflection, and community as we explore identity, culture, and the ways we move through the world.

KC CODE SWITCHER is a monthly gathering centering BIPOC poets and voices, featuring a different guest poet each session to guide us through discussions on self-expression, heritage, and transformation.

📅 Next Session: August 7th
🌟 Featuring Sandra Scott Revelle
📍 ONLINE, Sign up to get link
🕠 5:15 - 7:00 PM

This year’s theme, “Culture and Migrating Through Spaces,” encourages us to think about migration beyond physical borders—considering the ways we navigate different cultural spaces, personal transitions, and evolving identities. We’ll explore how culture is not just inherited but created, redefined, and embraced in new ways.

Come connect, share, and celebrate the power of poetry in shaping our stories and communities.

BIPOC voices centered.

 

About Sandra

Sandra Scott-Revelle is a writer and self-taught textile artist born in Sedalia, MO. After decades in the southwest, she has come full circle and now calls Kansas City home. Her deep interest in personal stories developed in childhood. Scott-Revelle writes historical fiction short stories based on narratives of enslaved people. She also creates vibrant art quilts for each story. This Black History Collection has been described as “deeply moving,” “heartbreaking,” and “inspiring.” Her “Between the Narratives Collection” includes: “Style,” a celebration of personal expression with hairstyles, “Elements,” striking figures portrayed as natural elements. Original poems accompany each art piece.

Her art has been exhibited in several places including the George Bush Library in Dallas, TX and the Leedy Voulkos Art Center in Kansas City. She has a solo exhibit at the Four Chapter Gallery in KC, until August 31.

Sandra has a book contract with Intervarsity Press for 2026. The book will include a collection of her short stories and art.

Past Facilitators

 

MAY 1, 2025

Marísa Grady

Marísa Adame Grady is what you get when parents push law school but there’s a prima-hermana (cousin-sister) constantly playing showtunes. Marísa houses her original projects within her small business, Colibrósa Productions. She has three poetry books released, and two short films completed. She was a Writing Resident at Charlotte Street from 2022-2024. She has been published in Crab Fat Magazine, Mad Swirl, the Glass: Poets Resist series, and more. Learn more at www.colibrosaproductions.com.

 

July 10, 2025

Sheila maldonado

Sheila Maldonado is the author of the poetry collections that's what you get (Brooklyn Arts Press, 2021) and one-bedroom solo (Fly by Night Press / A Gathering of the Tribes, 2011). She is a CantoMundo fellow and a Creative Capital awardee as part of desveladas, a visual writing collective. She teaches English for the City University of New York. She was born in Brooklyn, raised in Coney Island, the daughter of Armando and Vilma of El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras. She lives in El Alto Manhattan.

APRIL 3, 2025

Kourtney Cunningham

Meet Taboo, aka Kourtney, who unearthed her passion for poetry in the sixth grade. However, she didn’t hit the stage until October 2021, triumphing in four local slams since her debut. Currently, Taboo has become a member of the Fountain City Poets Slam Team. Fearlessly addressing taboo topics like mental health, sexual assault, addiction, etc. Taboo sparks crucial conversations, urging audiences to confront discomfort and embrace societal truths.

@kooorie

JUNE 3, 2025

Mary Silwance

Mary Silwance was born in Egypt and lives in Kansas City. She works in adult education, provides workshops on writing and serves on the editorial teams of Kansas City Review and Flying Ketchup Press. Mary also explores spiritual ecology in workshops and at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary is motivated by the belief that the imagination at play is emancipatory medicine through which we create community with ourselves, each other, and Earth.