Calendar

Upcoming Events


Oct
18

Aimee Nezhukumatathil: How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling Workshop

Aimee Nezhukumatathil: How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling Workshop
With Nebraska Writers Collective and Lincoln Parks and Recreation

We’re thrilled to sponsor Aimee Nezhukumatathil's upcoming writing workshops in Lincoln! Join her for "How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling" and see what blooms. 🌻

WHEN
October 17 • 3:30-5 p.m. - UNL Nebraska East Union
October 18 • 3:30-5 p.m. - Pioneers Park Nature Center
*Same workshop offered both dates. Please select one.

REGISTER HERE

View Event →
Oct
17

Aimee Nezhukumatathil: How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling Workshop

Aimee Nezhukumatathil: How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling Workshop
With Nebraska Writers Collective and Lincoln Parks and Recreation

We’re thrilled to sponsor Aimee Nezhukumatathil's upcoming writing workshops in Lincoln! Join her for "How to Fall Down into the Grass: Nature Journaling" and see what blooms. 🌻

WHEN
October 17 • 3:30-5 p.m. - UNL Nebraska East Union
October 18 • 3:30-5 p.m. - Pioneers Park Nature Center
*Same workshop offered both dates. Please select one.

REGISTER HERE

View Event →
Oct
12

Visiting Writers Series: Stephanie Pacheco at the Omaha Poetry Slam

This month’s Omaha Poetry Slam is featuring United States National Youth Poet Laureate, Stephanie Pacheco! @‌thestephaniepacheco

Come for a 20-minute set with Stephanie Pacheco, stay for the Omaha Poetry Slam!

$50 cash prize, $10 Suggested Entry

Saturday, October 12
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Performance starts at 7:00 p.m.
Located at Dry Spokes, 1901 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68102.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Stephanie Pacheco is the 2024-2025 National Youth Poet Laureate and served as the 2023 NYC Youth Poet Laureate and the inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate. She was also a member of Urban Word’s 2022 Youth Slam Team.

Hailing from The Bronx, she has been a leading organizer and strategist with several activist organizations, including the Healing Centered Schools Task Force, working to mobilize youth across the city against educational injustice. She is a recipient of the 2021 Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Her advocacy and poetry have been highlighted by The New York Times, The Today Show, NPR, The Daily News, CBS, and other publications.

She has spoken and performed in notable venues such as The Schomburg Center, The Apollo Theater, The Barclays Center, The New York Public Library, TedXCUNY, and more.

View Event →
Visiting Writers Series: Workshop with Stephanie Pacheco
Oct
12

Visiting Writers Series: Workshop with Stephanie Pacheco

Join us for an exciting opportunity! National Youth Poet Laureate Stephanie Pacheco will lead a free, all-ages writing workshop at the Carter Lake Public Library on Saturday, October 12, from 1-2:30 p.m.

Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, all are welcome to participate! (Recommended for ages 16+.)

Space is limited to 30 participants.
✅ Register now to secure your spot: bit.ly/nwc-register

This workshop is part of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s Visiting Writers Series.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Stephanie Pacheco is the 2024-2025 National Youth Poet Laureate and served as the 2023 NYC Youth Poet Laureate and the inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate. She was also a member of Urban Word’s 2022 Youth Slam Team.

Hailing from The Bronx, she has been a leading organizer and strategist with several activist organizations, including the Healing Centered Schools Task Force, working to mobilize youth across the city against educational injustice. She is a recipient of the 2021 Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Her advocacy and poetry have been highlighted by The New York Times, The Today Show, NPR, The Daily News, CBS, and other publications.

She has spoken and performed in notable venues such as The Schomburg Center, The Apollo Theater, The Barclays Center, The New York Public Library, TedXCUNY, and more.

View Event →
Nov
11

Omaha Poetry Slam

The Nebraska Writers Collective is thrilled to announce the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month at Dry Spokes.

Doors open at 6:30, event begins at 7:00. We will start with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)

Slam performers will have up to three minutes in each round to perform, and will be judged by five audience members on a scale from 0.0-10.0. Top performing poets will move onto the second and third rounds, and the top scorer will walk away with $50! All poems must be performed solo without props, costumes, musical accompaniment, and must consist entirely of the poet’s original words and work.

For the open mic, you can perform either your work or the work of others with attribution. Open mic readers have up to five minutes to perform.

In the interest of creating the most inclusive environment for our all-ages audience, we have a zero tolerance policy for racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, religious discrimination, or otherwise harmful writing and performance. Your time on the mic is not guaranteed.

View Event →
Nov
9

Lincoln Poetry Slam ft. Tony McPherson

The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Lincoln Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Thursday of every month at Larksong Writers Place. This month’s event will include a feature set from Tony McPherson!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m. We will start with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)

Slam performers will have up to three minutes in each round to perform, and will be judged by five audience members on a scale from 0.0-10.0. Top performing poets will move onto the second and third rounds, and the top scorer will walk away with $50! All poems must be performed solo without props, costumes, musical accompaniment, and must consist entirely of the poet’s original words and work.

For the open mic, you can perform either your work or the work of others with attribution. Open mic readers have up to five minutes to perform.

In the interest of creating the most inclusive environment for our all-ages audience, we have a zero tolerance policy for racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, religious discrimination, or otherwise harmful writing and performance. Your time on the mic is not guaranteed.

View Event →
Nov
4

Tony McPherson's Reading & Performance

The Nebraska Writers Collective is thrilled to present Tony McPherson, a resident poet at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, for an evening of readings and performances.

Join us on Saturday, November 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Swanson Auditorium in UNL Nebraska Unions, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Featuring Tony McPherson
His poetry has been featured in the Lionsgate film "Love Beats Rhymes," produced by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, and in the Emmy-winning documentary "Frameworks." Tony's accolades include being the Rustbelt Slam champion, a double Inkslam champion, and the first runner-up at the Individual World Poetry Slam. His viral poem, "All Lives Matter: 1800's Edition," has garnered over 10 million views.

Local Openers
We’ll also hear from Bianca Swift, Shelby Martinez, and Syble Heffernan. The event will be hosted by Stacey Waite.

All-Ages Open Mic
Following the main event, we invite all ages to participate in an open mic. Whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, you're welcome. Each reader will have up to 5 minutes at the mic, depending on the number of participants.

$10 Suggested Donation
To support events like this and continue fostering literary experiences, we suggest a $10 donation for entry. (No one will be turned away.)

With funding from Humanities Nebraska and Nebraska Cultural Endowment, this event is presented by Nebraska Writers Collective as part of our Visiting Writers Series.

View Event →
Nov
4

Tony McPherson’s Writing Workshop

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of creative exploration at the Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th Street, in downtown Lincoln on Saturday, November 4 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Tony McPherson, a distinguished writer and resident poet at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, will guide participants through the art of generative writing. In this hands-on workshop, you'll delve into the creative process of coming up with new ideas, exploring your unique voice, and crafting compelling written pieces.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
All ages from high school and above are welcome to be part of this enriching experience. Whether you're an aspiring author, a seasoned poet, or just someone who loves putting thoughts to paper, you'll find inspiration and community here.

FUNDING & SUPPORT
With funding from Humanities Nebraska and Nebraska Cultural Endowment, this event is presented by Nebraska Writers Collective as part of our Visiting Writers Series.

To help us sustain and grow such enriching literary events, we kindly suggest a $10 donation for participation. However, please know that no one will be turned away.

MORE ABOUT THE WRITER
Tony McPherson is also a former NYC subway breakdancer whose poetry appears in the Lionsgate film “Love Beats Rhymes,” produced by RZA of Wu-Tang, as well as the Emmy-winning documentary “Frameworks.” McPherson is the Rustbelt Slam champion, the Inkslam champion twice over, the Individual World Poetry Slam 1st runner up, and has reached over 10 million views since his first viral poem, “All Lives Matter: 1800’s Edition.”

View Event →
Oct
14

Omaha Poetry Slam ft. U.S. Youth Poet Laureate

The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month at Dry Spokes. This month’s event will include a feature set from U.S. Youth Poet Laureate, Salome Agbaroji!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m. We will start with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)

Slam performers will have up to three minutes in each round to perform, and will be judged by five audience members on a scale from 0.0-10.0. Top performing poets will move onto the second and third rounds, and the top scorer will walk away with $50! All poems must be performed solo without props, costumes, musical accompaniment, and must consist entirely of the poet’s original words and work.

For the open mic, you can perform either your work or the work of others with attribution. Open mic readers have up to five minutes to perform.

In the interest of creating the most inclusive environment for our all-ages audience, we have a zero tolerance policy for racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, religious discrimination, or otherwise harmful writing and performance. Your time on the mic is not guaranteed.

View Event →
Oct
14

Writing Workshop with U.S. Youth Poet Laureate

National Youth Poet Laureate Salome Agbaroji will teach a free, all-ages writing workshop at the Carter Lake Public Library on Saturday, October 14 from 12:30-2 p.m. All are welcome!

Please register to attend.

With funding from Humanities Nebraska and Nebraska Cultural Endowment, this event is presented by Nebraska Writers Collective as part of our Visiting Writers Series.

SAVE THESE DATES
Tony McPherson: November 2-4, 2023
George Abraham: February 22-24, 2024

ABOUT SALOME AGBAROJI
Salome Agbaroji is the National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States 2023-2024, making her the first African with this title. She is a Nigerian-American poet that has written and/or performed spoken word poetry for the Golden Globes Pre-Show, NFL Rams Halftime Show, an Opening Act on Rupi Kaur's World Tour, the likes of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors, Mrs. Tina Lawson, and many more.

This year, she will be an ambassador for Vans’ global brand campaign. Salome was a YoungArts winner in Spoken Word and has been honored by the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, among many others. She has been published in NPR's KCRW, Noema Magazine, the Harvard Technology Review, and more.

Entering Harvard University studying Government and Political Science this fall, her focuses outside of poetry are civic engagement and advocacy about issues such as racism towards minority communities, immigrant stories, injustices in the international community, and more.

View Event →