The Future of Poetry: A Panel Discussion with the Indiana Writer’s Center

Moderator: Chantel Massey
Date: Wednesday, December 14
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM Eastern
Location: Indy Reads – Registration Required (no walk-ins permitted)
Cost: Free, or choose Donation (select your option below)

In the final culmination of our 3-workshop series, you are invited to come network, mingle and listen to a powerful panel of thinkers, dreamers and makers. Come enjoy a lively discussion as they share their thoughts about the future of poetry in Indianapolis.

We need new words for what this is, this hunger entering our loneliness like birds, stunning our eyes into rays of hope. We need the flutter that can save us, something that will swirl across the face of what we have become and bring us grace. – Lucille Clifton

Inspired by Lucille Clifton’s quote above, Indiana Writers Center and UnLearn Arts have collaborated to create a 3-workshop series, focusing on dreaming, joy, and wellness that will inspire its participants to dream of new worlds through poetry in Indianapolis.

The Indiana Writers Center would like to thank the Poetry Foundation for sponsoring this program. We would also like to thank our community partners UnLearn Arts and Indy Reads for helping make this programming possible.

The Writers

Ashley Mack-Jackson (she/her) is a writer, teacher, and proud Hoosier. Ashley received a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, an M.S. in nonprofit and association management from University of Maryland University College, and an M.A. in English from Ball State University. Her work has appeared in publications such as Callaloo, Obsidian, and The Indianapolis Anthology. In 2018 she received an Incubator Seed Grant from The Poetry Foundation Poetry for her work as the cofounder and co-CEO of Word As Bond, a nonprofit that provides free literary arts programs for young people. She lives and works in Indianapolis where she is an editorial assistant at The Indianapolis Review and teaches in the Butler University School of Education.

Corey Ewing, formerly Saint Peace, is a native of Indianapolis, IN that pursued a love of poetry across the country on a whim. In 2008 he and his collegiate team were the Northwest Regional Champions and placed fourth at College Nationals. He would return home to support his hometown in varied poetic projects including Indianapolis Poetry Slam, Word As Bond, Fighting Words Poetry, Cosplay Poets, multiple slam teams, and currently curates Vocab. He continues to teach, coach, and create here in Indy. He has coached and competed to multiple regional and national final stages and continues to be a mentoring figure in the Indianapolis poetry scene.

Korie “KP” Griggs facilitates healing through vulnerability and literary expression. She believes in the healing power of community and loves educational conversations that inspire and encourage growth within individuals and groups. She has published many community zines through her non-profit, Queen Spirit, Inc and was named Artist of the Year by Nickel Plate Arts District. Her debut book, Suffer Well: Poems for the Grieving, will release in October of 2022.