Poetry Forward

The best way to raise kids’ interest in poetry is to have a professional poet show them poetry as an art form which is both entertaining and meaningful to their lives. Our poets show students how to add to the rich tapestry of diverse voices and experiences which make up American poetry and in doing so foster a love of poetry as a relevant and accessible art form which all participants can both create and enjoy.

Poetry Forward is a 501c3 nonprofit which sends poets who have world class experience in writing, publishing, teaching and performing into schools and community centers around the region, serving those who can benefit the most. Our teaching artists have provided programs in every county in Nebraska as well as in the surrounding states, even for the U.S. State Department in Belarus, Botswana, Nepal and Romania.

Poetry Forward is based out of Omaha, Nebraska and features former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason as its primary teaching artist. They work with everyone from Kindergarteners through senior citizens.

Poetry Forward aims to retain literary artists in their communities by paying an experienced poet a professional wage for their work, bringing them into schools and communities, libraries, senior centers and more.

 

Quotes about our teaching artists:

“When students hear Matt’s poems about things like Star Wars, a tornado, a pencil, or a water fountain, he helps them to realize that poetry is for all of us and can be about anything. This is a very inspiring concept for students who are provided with limited experiences with the arts in public schools: the realization that their ideas, words, and voices are beautiful and important and that they have everything they need to be a poet already inside of them.”
          -MaryTheresa Green, teacher at Alliance High School; Alliance, NE

“I just wanted to say how much we appreciated your visit yesterday. I heard a few kids creating poems on their way out yesterday! I even heard one tell their parents about it during parent teacher conferences! You brought energy into the library and school and we all appreciated that! Thank you so much!”
          -Sarah Pacholski, librarian at Meadows Elementary School; Ralston, NE

 

Contact Poetry Forward today at 402-680-8755 or Matt@PoetryForward.org

Donations can be mailed to:
     Poetry Forward
     9712 N 34th Street
     Omaha, NE 68112