Poetry builds bridges and connection. It provides us with a format through which we can find our voices and tell our stories in the most unvarnished and authentic way possible. This is evident not just in our own community, where open mics and poetry slam festivals are commonplace, but also across the world, where almost every country has a poetic tradition rooted in their history and culture. 
 

The 821 Project hosts community poetry workshops that promote global citizenship through literacy and artistic expression. No prior writing experience is necessary for participation in these workshops--just an open mind and willingness to try something new. Participants write their own poems and combine their best phrases with those of others to create a community poem.