ABOUT SW@MP
Spoken Word at Mass Poetry (SW@MP) is a weekly afterschool writing and performance workshop series for teens ages 13-19, led by Mass Poetry’s Director of Programming and co-led by SW@MP alumni Maria Zaki. SW@MP is a supportive space for youth to freely write, express, and create on their own terms while exploring their agency as artists.
Additionally, SW@MP members can be involved with hosting, programming, and performing at Mass Poetry’s Teen Spoken Word Festival, Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud!, among other events!
We are kicking off this year’s weekly programming on Wednesdays from 4-6 pm at GrubStreet’s Center for Creative Writing (50 Liberty Drive, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02210), but we’re doing things a little differently. As some of you may have heard, Mass Poetry lost a major source of funding, which has significantly impacted our capacity to run SW@MP. Following the wishes and resilience of our SW@MP members, instead of postponing our weekly Wednesday programming, we will continue SW@MP at a reduced capacity.
SW@MP is a supportive space where teens can write poems, experiment with different art forms, build community, collaborate, create their own books of poetry, compete in slams, host open mics, and take part in Mass Poetry’s teen festival.
Take a Closer Look at Our Programming
Below, you can watch our preview video to get the scoop on our programming. We’ve curated an annual calendar’s worth of activities made with heart and care by renowned poets who are pushing our art form forward and supporting our youth to do the same!
Schedule
Please check back for 2026-2027 SW@MP programming!
Expand sections below to see the schedule.
September
| Session # | Dates | Program Type *Subject to Change Based on Interest | Additional Info |
| Session 1 | 9/24 | Kick Off, Community Agreements, Term 1 Horizons, Gossip Workshop! | Important Forms for the Year |
October
| Session # | Dates | Program Type *Subject to Change Based on Interest | Additional Info |
| Session 2 | 10/1 | Poeming! : Ekphrastic as Challenge to High-Low Art Dichotomy | |
| U35 Open House/Mic | 10/2 | This is an optional event outside of regular SW@MP sessions if you want to get involved! | Event Link |
| Session 3 | 10/8 | Poeming! : Surreal Omniscient Persona Poems | |
| Session 4 | 10/15 | Poeming! : Visual and Non-linear Poems | Chapbook Check-in |
| Session 5 | 10/22 | Poeming! : Poetry Forms and why we use them | |
| Session 6 | 10/29 | Poeming! : How to kick it with your friends and accidentally make Group Pieces | City of Boston Youth Poet Laureate Apps Due! |
November
| Session # | Dates | Program Type *Subject to Change Based on Interest | Additional Info |
| Session 7 | 11/5 | Field Trip : TBA | We’ll be out of our center, so no drop-in’s unfortunately for prospective SW@MP members or guests! |
| Session 8 | 11/12* | Chapbook Planning, Revision, Gearing Up for the Chapbook Showcase and Slam Event! | |
| Session 9 | 11/19 | Performance // Showcase Prep | |
| Thx Gvn Brk | 11/26 | Remote 1-on-1s | School Vacation Week |
December
| Session # | Dates | Program Type *Subject to Change Based on Interest | Additional Info |
| Session 10 | 12/3 | Finalize Performance // Showcase Prep | |
| Session 11 | 12/10 | SHOWCASE AND SLAM EVENT 4-7pm | |
| Session 12 | 12/17 | Victory Lap Celebration (cuz we r all winnerz)! | |
| Winter Break! | 12/22/2025 – 1/2/2026 | Time for rest, family time, and space to reflect on accomplishments thus far! | We resume programming 1/17/2026 for Term 2! |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Spoken Word Program and why should I join it?
Spoken Word at Mass Poetry is an opportunity for Boston area youth to come together through the art of spoken word. The sessions will be an opportunity to practice skills from different art forms and adapting them into writing poetry.
Spoken word? As in performance? Will we be performing?
Yes! Spoken word is poetry meant to be performed out loud. And as much as we will practice in our sessions, we will also have the opportunity to practice at a monthly open mic hosted at the Center for Creative Writing.
Do I have to have experience writing or performing?
Not at all! We are ready to accept you where you are at and build from there. There will be a number of different workshops offered in both writing and performance to help sharpen your skills.
When and where are the sessions being held?
The sessions are scheduled for Wednesday’s from 4:00 – 6:00.
They are being held at 50 Liberty Drive, Boston, MA – the Center for Creative Writing (aka Porter Square Books: Boston Edition, aka GrubStreet Seaport)
It is a 14 min walk from South Station
Or from South Station transfer to Silver Line, get off at Courthouse, then it’s a 5 min walk to the Center for Creative Writing
Do I have to pay anything?
No, matter of fact, we will pay you! There will be monthly stipend for youth that participate in the sessions as well as assistance in travel. We believe in the skills being developed in the sessions, we seem them as work, so we believe in paying people for their work.
Who are the instructor(s)?
There will be monthly special guests from Boston based poets as well as traveling poets, but the lead instructor is Mass Poetry’s Director of Programming, Crystal Valentine. Spoken Word will also be supported by other team members of Mass Poetry.