Nebraska Writers Collective

Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) National Finalist site visits (students only) (Read More)

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National Youth Poet Laureate Commencement (Read More)

In partnership with Urban Word, the Nebraska Writers Collective is hosting the National Youth Poet Laureate Commencement. This marks the first time Nebraska has welcomed this national event. The evening will feature performances from the four National Youth Poet Laureate finalists from across the country, alongside a reading by the 2025 Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate, Evan Wang. The program will be hosted by Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers and accompanied by DJ Errik Ejike. Since limited seating is available, registration is required to attend in person. The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

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Virtual Writing Workshop for Adults (Read More)

Award-winning poet, author, and lyricist Rayma Ramana will present an online workshop focusing on the intersection of healing and poetry for adults. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. This event is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective Visiting Writer Series. Rayma Ramana is an award-winning American author, poet and lyricist. She was born, raised and currently resides in New York. Ramana won the NY Knicks Poetry Slam, which awarded her a full-tuition scholarship to St. John’s University. Soon after, she became the Youth Poet Laureate of NYC. She has since performed at events such as the US Open, Tribeca Film Festival, TV One’s Verses and Flow, Pharrell’s Adidas campaign, SONY TV’s Asian Women in the Arts Awards, the Immigrant Gala, the Grand Slam Finals at the Apollo Theater, Celebrate Brooklyn!, the Source magazine's SOURCE360 Festival and many more. Her work can be found on the Poetry Foundation and Academy of American Poets websites and in Seventh Wave and the Southampton Review. Ramana published her first collection of poems through Penmanship Books, with a release at Lincoln Center. In addition to performing and writing, she has also worked as an educator and mentor for young poets and young women. She recently received her MFA in creative writing from the New School. Ramana’s current endeavors include running a blog through Medium and working as a librettist for an operetta film. Her hope is to remain a student of wonder and to explore truth sincerely through her work and her life.

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Virtual Writing Workshop for Adults (Read More)

Award-winning poet, author, and lyricist Rayma Ramana will present an online workshop focusing on the intersection of healing and poetry for adults. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. This event is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective Visiting Writer Series. Rayma Ramana is an award-winning American author, poet and lyricist. She was born, raised and currently resides in New York. Ramana won the NY Knicks Poetry Slam, which awarded her a full-tuition scholarship to St. John’s University. Soon after, she became the Youth Poet Laureate of NYC. She has since performed at events such as the US Open, Tribeca Film Festival, TV One’s Verses and Flow, Pharrell’s Adidas campaign, SONY TV’s Asian Women in the Arts Awards, the Immigrant Gala, the Grand Slam Finals at the Apollo Theater, Celebrate Brooklyn!, the Source magazine's SOURCE360 Festival and many more. Her work can be found on the Poetry Foundation and Academy of American Poets websites and in Seventh Wave and the Southampton Review. Ramana published her first collection of poems through Penmanship Books, with a release at Lincoln Center. In addition to performing and writing, she has also worked as an educator and mentor for young poets and young women. She recently received her MFA in creative writing from the New School. Ramana’s current endeavors include running a blog through Medium and working as a librettist for an operetta film. Her hope is to remain a student of wonder and to explore truth sincerely through her work and her life.

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Virtual Writing Workshop for Teens (Read More)

Award-winning poet, author, and lyricist Rayma Ramana will present an online workshop focusing on the intersection of healing and poetry for teens age 13 and up. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. This event is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective Visiting Writer Series. Rayma Ramana is an award-winning American author, poet and lyricist. She was born, raised and currently resides in New York. Ramana won the NY Knicks Poetry Slam, which awarded her a full-tuition scholarship to St. John’s University. Soon after, she became the Youth Poet Laureate of NYC. She has since performed at events such as the US Open, Tribeca Film Festival, TV One’s Verses and Flow, Pharrell’s Adidas campaign, SONY TV’s Asian Women in the Arts Awards, the Immigrant Gala, the Grand Slam Finals at the Apollo Theater, Celebrate Brooklyn!, the Source magazine's SOURCE360 Festival and many more. Her work can be found on the Poetry Foundation and Academy of American Poets websites and in Seventh Wave and the Southampton Review. Ramana published her first collection of poems through Penmanship Books, with a release at Lincoln Center. In addition to performing and writing, she has also worked as an educator and mentor for young poets and young women. She recently received her MFA in creative writing from the New School. Ramana’s current endeavors include running a blog through Medium and working as a librettist for an operetta film. Her hope is to remain a student of wonder and to explore truth sincerely through her work and her life.

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EVENT CHNAGE Omaha Poetry Slam (Read More)

Due to unforseen circumstances, Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre will not be featured at this event. He may appear at a future poetry slam, which would be listed in a future calendar event. Doors open 6:30 p.m., open mic starts at 7 p.m. followed by the competition. Registration is suggested at this link. Admission is a suggested donation of $10. Kyle Tran Myhre (aka Guante) is a poet and activist whose work explores the relationships between narrative, power, and resistance. He’s performed at the United Nations, contributed to a Grammy-winning album, been a member of two National Poetry Slam championship teams, and visited countless colleges, conferences, and festivals, using spoken word and storytelling as doorways into critical dialogue.

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POSTPONED Writing workshop with Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre (Read More)

Due to unforseen circumstances, this event is being postponed. Any future date will be included in a new calendar event. Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre will lead a free writing workshop at the Gere Branch Library. Space is limited. Register to secure your spot: https://bit.ly/nwc-register. This workshop is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s Visiting Writers Series. Kyle Tran Myhre (aka Guante) is a poet and activist whose work explores the relationships between narrative, power, and resistance. He’s performed at the United Nations, contributed to a Grammy-winning album, been a member of two National Poetry Slam championship teams, and visited countless colleges, conferences, and festivals, using spoken word and storytelling as doorways into critical dialogue.

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Verbal Gumbo (Read More)

This spoken word event will begin with a discussion of the history and cultural impact of oral tradition in shaping modern poetry, hip hop, and storytelling followed by spoken word poetry and music. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective event page for the advance ticket link.

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POSTPONED Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre school visit (students only) (Read More)

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Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre school visit (students only) (Read More)

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Huascar Medina school visit (students only) (Read More)

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Huascar Medina school visit (students only) (Read More)

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Writing Workshop with Huascar Medina (Read More)

Kansas Poet Laureate Emeritus Huascar Medina will lead a free writing workshop (recommended for ages 16+) for anyone from seasoned to beginning writers. Space is limited to 30 participants. Register to secure your spot: https://bit.ly/nwc-register. This workshop is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s Visiting Writers Series. Kansas Poet Laureate emeritus (2019-2022) and Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, Huascar Medina has authored two books of poetry: Un Mango Grows in Kansas and How to Hang the Moon. He is the Lit editor for seveneightfive magazine, a staff editor at South Broadway Press in Denver, CO, an op-ed writer at Kansas Reflector, a founding member and former Chair of TopekaUnited.org, the founder of wordssavelives.org, and co-founder of latinidad.us. Huascar was born in Killeen, TX, and has lived artfully in Kansas for over two decades. He considers himself a special kind of Kansan—a helianthus. Huascar took roots in Kansas, grew there, and blossomed. As a second-generation immigrant living in the Heartland, Huascar pushes the boundaries between identity and location, focusing on cultural empathy, social cohesion, class structures, first-generation trauma, minority mental health, and internalized diasporic longing and belonging. His work has appeared in the Flint Hills Review, Gasconade Review, Green Mountains Review, Kansas Magazine, Latino Book Review, The New York Times, and elsewhere.

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Poetry Reading and Community Open Mic feat. Huascar Medina (Read More)

An Open Mic begins at 7 p.m. followed by a reading from Kansas Poet Laurate Emeritus Huascar Medina at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Registration is requested at bit.ly/nwc-register This event is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s Visiting Writers Series. Kansas Poet Laureate emeritus (2019-2022) and Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, Huascar Medina has authored two books of poetry: Un Mango Grows in Kansas and How to Hang the Moon. He is the Lit editor for seveneightfive magazine, a staff editor at South Broadway Press in Denver, CO, an op-ed writer at Kansas Reflector, a founding member and former Chair of TopekaUnited.org, the founder of wordssavelives.org, and co-founder of latinidad.us. Huascar was born in Killeen, TX, and has lived artfully in Kansas for over two decades. He considers himself a special kind of Kansan—a helianthus. Huascar took roots in Kansas, grew there, and blossomed. As a second-generation immigrant living in the Heartland, Huascar pushes the boundaries between identity and location, focusing on cultural empathy, social cohesion, class structures, first-generation trauma, minority mental health, and internalized diasporic longing and belonging. His work has appeared in the Flint Hills Review, Gasconade Review, Green Mountains Review, Kansas Magazine, Latino Book Review, The New York Times, and elsewhere.

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Stephanie Pacheco Featured Performance at Omaha Poetry Slam (Read More)

Catch a 20-minute set by Stephanie Pacheco at the Omaha Poetry Slam. Stephanie Pacheco is the 2024-2025 National Youth Poet Laureate and served as the 2023 NYC Youth Poet Laureate and the inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate. She was also a member of Urban Word’s 2022 Youth Slam Team. Hailing from The Bronx, she has been a leading organizer and strategist with several activist organizations, including the Healing Centered Schools Task Force, working to mobilize youth across the city against educational injustice. She is a recipient of the 2021 Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Her advocacy and poetry have been highlighted by The New York Times, The Today Show, NPR, The Daily News, CBS, and other publications. She has spoken and performed in notable venues such as The Schomburg Center, The Apollo Theater, The Barclays Center, The New York Public Library, TedXCUNY, and more.

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Writing Workshop with Stephanie Pacheco (Read More)

National Youth Poet Laureate Stephanie Pacheco will lead a free writing workshop (recommended for ages 16+.) This workshop is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s Visiting Writers Series. Space is limited to 30 participants. Register now to secure your spot. Stephanie Pacheco is the 2024-2025 National Youth Poet Laureate and served as the 2023 NYC Youth Poet Laureate and the inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate. She was also a member of Urban Word’s 2022 Youth Slam Team. Hailing from The Bronx, she has been a leading organizer and strategist with several activist organizations, including the Healing Centered Schools Task Force, working to mobilize youth across the city against educational injustice. She is a recipient of the 2021 Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Her advocacy and poetry have been highlighted by The New York Times, The Today Show, NPR, The Daily News, CBS, and other publications. She has spoken and performed in notable venues such as The Schomburg Center, The Apollo Theater, The Barclays Center, The New York Public Library, TedXCUNY, and more.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 semifinal bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Semifinal bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m. on April 16 and 18 at the Benson Theater. Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 Omaha preliminary bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Omaha preliminary bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m. April 2-4 on the Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus. Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 Omaha preliminary bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Omaha preliminary bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m. April 2-4 on the Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus. Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 Lincoln preliminary bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Lincoln preliminary bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m.: March 26 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 27 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 28 UNL City Campus Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 Lincoln preliminary bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Lincoln preliminary bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m.: March 26 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 27 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 28 UNL City Campus Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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All Writes Reserved 2024 Lincoln preliminary bouts (Read More)

All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. The Nebraska Writers Collective provides free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers and monthly all-ages open mics from August to April. At the end of the school year, the program culminates in a spoken word poetry festival where students from 30+ schools across Nebraska and parts of Iowa share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. The festival will take place between March and April in a series of poetry bouts. Lincoln preliminary bouts are 5:30-9:30 p.m.: March 26 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 27 UNL City Campus Nebraska Union March 28 UNL City Campus Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center Visit the Nebraska Writers Collective events website for current information.

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