December 7, 2017 (New York, NY)—The Poetry Coalition, an alliance of more than 20 poetry organizations across the United States, will devote March 2018 to programming on the theme “Where My Dreaming and My Loving Live: Poetry & the Body.”

This will be the second year of joint programming on a theme of social importance. In March 2017 the coalition addressed migration in a series of poetry readings, social media projects, panel discussions, writing workshops, and digital publications that reached 100,000 individuals in 11 cities.

Programming in March 2018 will include a range of events and publications that address issues including mass incarceration, transphobia, violence against people of color, and health and self-care.

The phrase “Where My Dreaming and My Loving Live” is an excerpt from the poem Flores Woman in Tracy K. Smith’s collection Duende. Smith was named the U.S. Poet Laureate in June, 2017.

Poetry Coalition members believe that poetry can be a positive way to share information, spark increased empathy and understanding, and contribute to public debate. Its programmatic efforts are supported by a grant to the Academy of American Poets from the Ford Foundation.

Any and all literary organizations, presses, libraries, bookstores, and beyond are invited to offer their own March programming on the theme in support of and in partnership with the Poetry Coalition.

Find and promote projects with the hashtags: #MyDreamingMyLoving and #PoetryCoalition.

For updated information about the Poetry Coalition, visit Poets.org/poetry-coalition.

About the Poetry Coalition

Launched in 2016, the Poetry Coalition is an alliance of America’s leading nonprofit literary organizations dedicated to the celebration of poetry in our everyday lives. The Academy of American Poets is the administrative and fiscal lead for the coalition.  

About the Academy of American Poets

Founded in 1934 in New York City, the Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization advocating for American poets and poetry. Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry.