Teens, Kick it with Mass Poetry!
Spoken Word at Mass Poetry (SW@MP) is a weekly afterschool writing & performance workshop series for teens (ages 13–19) led by Otto Vock (Teen Spoken Word Coordinator) and Crystal Valentine (Program Director).
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 Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud!
And the best part??? Teens who participate consistently are eligible to receive a paid stipend for their involvement!
Our 4th year of programming launches September 24 | 4:00–6:00 PM and will run every Wednesday (that school is in session) until June 2026. You can get a detailed look at our Term 1 Calendar at the bottom of this page!
SW@MP Interest Form
If you or someone you know (aged 13 -19) would be interested in joining the teen program, participating in workshops, getting involved with planning, creating programming and/or slamming in our annual regional youth poetry slam Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud click to visit the interest form or hit up Otto Vock at otto@masspoetry.org
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!
We’ve Passed the Torch, and We’re Burning Just as Bright
3 Years ago, Poet Anthony Febo and Danielle Jones spearheaded the creation of our weekly teen programming from the ground up. After years of pouring deep care into bringing SW@MP to life, Febo’s passed the torch on to the new Teen Spoken Word Coordinator, Otto Vock!
Otto’s taught with Mass Poetry for the past 3 years as a Poet-in-Residence, and knows the spirit of the program after many collaborations with Febo and Mass Poetry as a whole. They’re ready to keep it pushing
Schedule
See upcoming 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! |
About the Instructor
Otto Vock is a Jewish, non-binary poet and educator from Jersey City, NJ, now based in Somerville, MA, whose work explores the role of play and rebellion in all the nooks of life. Their work has appeared in The Offing, Pigeon Pages NYC, and the Quinobequin Review and their manuscript in progress, They Did Not Comply, recently received an honorable mention from Game Over Book’s 2025 open reading period. Additionally, they are the primary author of the companion curriculum for Phil Kaye’s book of poems, Date & Time, published in partnership with Button Poetry and Project VOICE. Recently, Otto began holding it down at Mass Poetry as their Teen Spoken Word Programming Coordinator and has previously taught at Urban Word NYC, 826 Boston, Grubstreet, and across several Boston Public Library branches providing free and open to the public poetry and personal essay workshops with the BPL’s Community History Department. They are pursuing a Master’s in Educational Studies at Tufts University and engage in trickery within the world of academia whenever possible (always).
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 Poetry Coalition Fellow Anthony Febo. Spoken Word will also be supported by other team members of Mass Poetry.