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Sonnet BOOM Coordinator: Apply Now!

POSITION OVERVIEW:

In partnership with Elevate Cities, Mass Poetry will launch a citywide poetry contest with three categories for adult, college, and youth writers. Winners in each category will receive a cash prize, publication, and opportunities to perform across the city. The Sonnet BOOM! Project Coordinator will work closely with and report to Crystal Valentine, the Program Director at Mass Poetry, to oversee the contest and lead creative civic engagement around the winning poems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Stage 1 – Poetry Contest & Community Engagement

• Design the contest with Elevate Cities, including categories, languages, and criteria.
• Manage Submittable, screening readers, judges, publicity, and marketing.
• Develop school and community workshop curriculum and recruit/manage poet educators.
• Lead outreach and workshops across Boston schools, libraries, colleges, bookstores, community organizations, senior centers, businesses, and online.
• Recruit participants and create Sonnet BOOM! features at Mass Poetry and partner events, including the Showcase, Slam Festival, and Poetry Festival.
• Explore follow-up readings featuring finalists and workshop participants.

Stage 2 – Civic Publishing & Amplification

• Following the selection of winners, Mass Poetry will lead a citywide campaign to bring finalist and winning poems into the everyday life of Boston, reaching tens of thousands of residents.
• The civic publishing program may include:

• Poems on the MBTA and through the City of Boston.
• Digital displays and billboards.
• Projected or wrapped buildings.
• Poetry phone booths or similar installations.
• Publication in local literary magazines and newspapers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong project management skills, with experience coordinating complex, multi-part initiatives from planning through to execution. 
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills, with the ability to engage poets, artists, community partners and vibrant. Diverse audiences.
• Experience in arts administration or community-based arts programs. Deep knowledge of public arts and Boston public, charter and private school systems.
• Demonstrated ability to create engaging public programs and events that connect art with literary and nonliterary audiences.
• Experience in civic engagement.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and creative, with strong attention to details the ability to manage deadlines and stakeholders. 
• Familiarity with Boston’s literary and arts communities is strongly preferred. 

COMPENSATION:

This is a hybrid contract position requiring a minimum commitment of 30 hours per week, from October 2026 through June 15, 2027. The total compensation for the contract is $45,000.

TO APPLY: 

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and 2-3 references to our APPLICATION FORM. No calls please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply early. The application deadline is October 9, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact Mass Poetry’s Program Director, Crystal Valentine at [email protected].

Mass Poetry is an equal opportunity employer committed to being an inclusive, multicultural organization. We encourage those who belong to communities that are underrepresented in arts administration such as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color), LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and more to apply. 

Support our Programs

Donations to Mass Poetry are critical in sustaining our mission, and throughout the year, we seek sponsorships and in-kind donations for community events, highlighted below. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, contributions to Mass Poetry are tax-deductible and we welcome community collaboration in our fundraising efforts. Please email [email protected] to discuss ways you can make a philanthropic impact, and thank you for your support!