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A Citywide Poetic Celebration of Earth Day

Event title and date "A Citywide Poetic Celebration of Earth Day" and "Friday, April 22, 2022" on left; image of typewriter on right; "NYC LITERARY ACTION COALITION" at the bottomIn partnership with Ars Poetica and PEN America, the NYC Literary Action Coalition will host a citywide literary celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 22, from 4 pm to 7 pm. The Coalition will send Ars Poetica poets with their typewriters to independent bookstores across the five boroughs to type poems for patrons and community members about Earth Day. 

Despite efforts to make New York City a sustainable home for all, issues like environmental racism continue to impact those that are most marginalized in our city. From lack of green spaces, food deserts, and negligible access to quality air and water, we are a long way from tackling head-on the issues that New Yorkers face in the face of climate change. 

In this event, New Yorkers across the city will have the opportunity to chat with poets about their biggest inspirations from the natural world, their fears about the climate crisis, and their dreams for a more environmentally conscious New York City. Each person will receive a free personalized poem as a symbol of their investment in creating a more sustainable and just New York City.

Join us in this celebration at any of the following independent bookstores:

1. Astoria Bookshop (Queens): 31-29 31st St, Astoria, NY 11106

2. Bronx Bound Books – Montefiore Hospital (The Bronx): mobile bookshop located near 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY 10467

3. Every Thing Goes Book Cafe and Neighborhood Stage (Staten Island): 208 Bay St, Staten Island, NY 10301

4. Quimby’s Bookstore NYC (Brooklyn): 536 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

5. Word Up Community Bookshop (Uptown Manhattan): 2113 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10032

6. Yu and Me Books (Downtown Manhattan): 44 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013


PARTNERS

headshot of poet Nunyala SogboNunyala Sogbo is a creative polymath based in NYC that draws inspiration from experiences both real and fantastical to create art that materializes their spiritual beliefs + otherworldly convictions. When they are not wordsmithing, they are painting aliens on jackets, drinking copious amounts of (bubble) tea, and making a new playlist for an oddly specific event or feeling.

Nunyala’s event location: Astoria Bookshop.

headshot of poet Anthony McPhersonAnthony McPherson is an international slam champion, spoken word artist, teaching artist, and social justice luminary. Watch his viral hit Black Lives Matter here.

Anthony is based in Harlem, NYC and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Anthony’s event location: Bronx Bound Books.

headshot of poet Nasimeh B.ENasimeh B.E. is an Iranian-American artist, poet, and writer whose work has appeared on UpWorthy, The Rumpus, and at zine and street fairs across the country. Also a trained improviser, her poems and illustrations artfully weave together hope, lyricism – and a good dash of humor. Find out more about her across social media: @Nasimehehe.

Nasimeh’s event location: Every Thing Goes Book Cafe and Neighborhood Stage.

headshot of poet Ramya RamanaRamya Ramana is an NYC Youth Poet Laureate, spoken word artist, teacher, and graduated from St John’s University with a degree in Philosophy. Her thoughtful attention will bring your poem to life.

Ramya’s event location: Quimby’s Bookstore NYC.

headshot of poet E.R. Pulgar
E.R. Pulgar
is a Venezuelan American poet, music journalist, and translator. Their criticism has appeared in i-D, Rolling Stone, Playboy, and elsewhere. Their poems have appeared in PANK Magazine and b l u s h and they have designed workshops for Catapult and The New York Public Library.

E.R.’s event location: Word Up Community Bookshop.

headshot of poet Zoe BranchZoe Branch is a writer, artist, entrepreneur, and teacher. Her small business, flora & phrase, specializes in sentimental and snarky typewriter goods — if you’re not sure what that means, don’t worry: she made it up and wants you to check it out. She’s been writing stories and making art with her great grandfather’s typewriter for two decades and specializes in free-verse poetry and limericks. If you ask nicely, she may even write you a poem on Tik Tok and send it to you in the mail.

Zoe’s event location: Yu and Me Books.