This year, Poetry Downtown proudly honors the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe with a four-city celebration. The festivities will take place in Boston on September 27, New York and Philadelphia on September 28, and Baltimore on September 29. The three-day, multicity poetry festival kicks off on September 27 from 1 to 2 PM at the historic Boston Public Library, America’s oldest public library. Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker will inaugurate the event with her lecture, “Literacy Through Poetry,” highlighting the vital role of poetry in fostering literacy.
Lecture Literacy Through Poetry
In the Commonwealth Room of the Boston Public Library, Professor Becker will delve into the vital role poetry can play in combating illiteracy. Drawing on her extensive experience as both an educator and a poet, she will share her insights into how the rhythm, structure, and emotional resonance of poetry can engage learners of all ages, fostering a love for reading and writing that transcends traditional educational barriers.
Topics:
This inspiring and thought-provoking lecture will cover the following topics, offering a comprehensive overview of how poetry can be utilized to enhance literacy and cultivate a lifelong love of reading and writing::
– The Accessibility of Poetry
– Enhancing Vocabulary and Language Skills
– Encouraging Creative Expression and Critical Thinking
– Building Community and Cultural Awareness
– Integrating Poetry into Literacy Education Programs
– Poetry Writing in Schools for Learners of all Ages K-12 and Beyond.
Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker
Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker is a distinguished poet and professor at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Professor Becker has dedicated research and experiential time in her career to exploring the profound impact of literature on society, consistently highlighting the transformative power of poetry.
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1848. The Boston Public Library is also Massachusetts’ Library for the Commonwealth meaning all adult residents of the state are entitled to borrowing and research privileges, and the library receives state funding. The Boston Public Library contains approximately 24 million items, making it not only the oldest but also the third-largest public library in the United States behind the federal Library of Congress and New York Public Library. The library played a very important role in making this lecture possible.
All events on September 27 in Boston
8-12.00 am Poetry Cycle Boston
A literary cycle of 5 miles in which we follow Edgar Allan Poe from his birthplace, via Edgar Allan Poe Square to Fort Independence where he was stationed.
1-2 pm Literacy Through Poetry
See above
3-4 pm Fly With Me To The Moon
At the Boston Public Library, we embark on a solo trip with Edgar Allan Poe en route to the Moon, escaping civilization and crossing to another planetary body.
8.00-10.00 pm Poetry Downtown Reading Boston
Max 13 selected poets read their work.
10.00-11.00 pm PATCH Boston
At PATCH (Poetry And Tales Cocktail Hour) poets and audience can meet, talk, drink and dance with eachother. At PATCH we will have each night also the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown: where speed, accuracy and skill determin the ultimate typewriter champion.
* all events are free
Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore
As mentioned earlier, the 4th Poetry Downtown Festival will take place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. This year’s festival promises a rich array of events and culinary delights, including 12 distinct dishes, four poetry readings, four lectures, three poetry cycles, three Ultimate Typewriter Countdowns, one talk show, and one radio play. Poets will journey on the Poetry Train, traveling between cities and towns across eight states from Boston to Baltimore. This unique and affordable experience offers poets the chance to network and collaborate, connecting poets in twenty different cities and towns.
Poetry Train
Erik van Loon envisions leasing a dedicated Poetry Train by 2025, equipped with restaurant, sleeper, disco, bar, and library cars. This year, he aims to welcome 40 poets aboard the Poetry Train, further expanding this unique festival. Support Erik’s American dream and help unite the country through the power of poetry. Visit https://poetrydowntown.com/crowdfunding for more information on how to become a sponsor.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
