Reimagining the self: Poetry, place, and the power of voice in public pedagogy
This session explores the social and personal impacts of autobiographical poetry writing as a method of identity construction and community formation. The poetic process, impacts individuals, classrooms and communities with the experience increased confidence, agency, and a deeper awareness of self—not only as individuals, but as co-creators of collective memory within a specific neighbourhood or city.
Poetry is framed here as a critical tool of public pedagogy: an accessible, radically democratic space where authentic voices generate meaning, foster polycultural dialogue, and challenge dominant narratives. Whether in classrooms, community centres, or on open mic stages, these platforms become informal yet powerful social forums—modern equivalents of the town hall or public square.
Drawing on cultural movements shaped by jazz improvisation—from the Black Arts Movement and the Beats to Nuyorican poetry, Afri-COBRA visual arts, and the aesthetics of Hip Hop—this session situates contemporary poetic expression within a lineage of social critique and artistic resistance. These traditions inform how writers reclaim space and identity through language, contributing to the (re)construction of both self and place.
Participants are invited to bring a pen and page. Together, we’ll explore the power of storytelling as a civic and cultural act.