Speaking Volumes 2023

Pongo Poetry Project exists to support the mental well-being of young people coping with childhood trauma while confined to institutions, such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Speaking Volumes 2023 is Pongo’s fourth annual fall celebration, and is set for Thursday September 21st.

Pongo is welcoming three talented Pacific Northwest poets to this year’s event: WA State Poet Laureate Arianne True; Seattle Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai; and Cave Canem Fellow Quenton Baker.

Speaking Volumes 2023 will feature a panel discussion including these esteemed poets, the voices of Pongo youth authors, stories of impact from across our history. And we’re thrilled to be hosting Speaking Volumes in-person this year, at Metropolist, in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the transformative capacity of poetry to spark healing and growth.

Tickets for Speaking Volumes 2023 are available for $50. All ticket and donation proceeds will fuel our healing poetry programming serving incarcerated and systems-involved youth. If cost of registration is a financial barrier to entry, please contact Nebeu Shimeles ([email protected]).