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Join us for an evening of spoken word featuring renowned poet Jasmine Mans, alongside local and emerging voices whose work echoes her emotional depth and bold storytelling.
Through original performances, reflection, and a closing dedication honoring her latest collection, the event invites attendees to experience the ways Jasmine's voice continues to shape contemporary poetry and ignite dialogue across generations.
Jasmine Mans is a queer Black poet and performance artist from Newark, New Jersey. Jasmine’s debut poetry collection, Black Girl, Call Home (Berkley Penguin Random House) published in 2021 to critical and commercial acclaim, and was named one of the most anticipated books of the season by Oprah, TIME, Vogue, Vulture, Essence, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Refinery 29, Shondaland, Bustle, and Reader’s Digest. The collection went on to receive the prestigious Stonewall Honor Award, as well as a BCALA Award in the Poetry category.
Jasmine most recently collaborated with the Brooklyn Ballet at the storied Brooklyn Academy of Music, setting her poetry to ballet and classical scores. Jasmine was also a contributor to Nikole Hannah-Jones’s The 1619 Project and has co-hosted The Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series alongside renowned author Jason Reynolds.
Jasmine began her creative journey with the acclaimed Strivers Row poetry collective, and she continues to perform to sold-out crowds, like the Sundance Film Festival, Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theater, and BAM, among many others. Jasmine can currently be heard as the voice of Ulta Beauty’s national “Muse” campaign, honoring Black women in the hair and beauty industry.
Jasmine lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she operates her award-winning business Buy Weed from Women. The Buy Weed from Women book was acquired at auction by DK, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and will be published in 2026.
Amuchechukwu Nwafor (Amuche The Poet) is a DC based writer, performance artist, host, event curator, and teaching artist. She is a first-generation born Black American whose poetry touches on the diaspora, sexual advocacy, mental health, and the female experience. Amuche considers her poems to be still life paintings of intimate experiences, emotions and observations. She has performed her work at numerous places including Busboys and Poets, Towson University, the University of the District of Columbia, and the Kennedy Center. Her debut collection of poetry, Salt Water Roots, was published October 2024 in collaboration with the DC Poet Project and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Currently, she co-hosts and curates “Poetry Gallery” a monthly poetry open mic at Station 3510 in Mt. Rainier, MD. Through her writing she aspires to heal, grow and inspire people from all different walks of life. Find her on Instagram at @amuchethepoet.
Ife is a DC native that began her journey as a poet during childhood before emerging as a multidisciplinary artist, event curator, and host in 2022. In December 2022, she founded Love Iconic and recently celebrated 3 years of pioneering spaces for vulnerability and self-empowerment. In 2024, Ife self-published her first collection of poetry centering similar themes, and titled it a third wind. She has performed across the District, from arts festivals and open mics, to women’s empowerment conferences and sociopolitical rallies. Ife’s poetry has even found its way onto Virginia transit buses. Through poetry and visual art, she critiques the restless, selfish way the western world socializes us while calling back our individual and collective power. Ife is an activist for social emotional learning and educational equity for melanated people of all ages.
j.a dennis is a dynamic multidisciplinary artist who interweaves poetry, photography, and musicianship to captivate audiences through powerful storytelling. He’s built a reputation as a compelling voice in the DMV art scene as his works affectionately explores Black life, culture, and history. Also known as jd by his peers, j.a’s work expounds on themes ranging from social justice and identity politics to personal growth and self-discovery. He recently released his new book of poetry in 2026 titled, My Father’s Trust Never Entered My Mind. Follow his artistic journey on IG and Tik Tok at by.ja.dennis. To purchase his book visit www.byjadennis.com.
Jenari is a writer, fighter, and trailblazer from Southeast Washington, DC. She started her writing journey during National Poetry Month in 2019. By 2021, Jenari won the first DMV Renaissance Female Poet of the Year Award and was featured in the Washington City Paper. Jenari has become one of her city's most well known poets, and continues to attract attention from across the world. She has performed in many places, including Philly, NYC, Texas, LA, Miami, Jamaica, Paris, and more.
Lemonade Dream is a 16-year-old poet, performer, and student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Her work explores mental health, women’s history, grief, and self-love. She has performed from DC to NYC at venues like the Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln Theatre, and Busboys and Poets. Lemonade has also performed at the international scale, traveling to Mexico and co-hosting a talent show at local Playa del Carmen school: Colegio Inglés. A nominee for the Mayor’s Arts Awards for Excellence in Youth Creativity, the 2024 Words on Fire Champion, and the 2025 Art to Go Go 1st Place Winner. With over 100 poems, Lemonade Dream inspires others to chase their dreams by leading the charge.
A dedicated Special Education teacher, Pierre’s journey comes full circle. Once a student in special education, he now empowers the very students he once stood among. His life is a testimony of resilience, purpose, and transformation. Pierre’s work is rooted in love, struggle, triumph, and culture. His poetry dares to rise above judgment and dismantle limiting labels.
AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults | 13 - 19 Years Old (Teens) |
EVENT TYPE: | Poetry Month | Jazz Appreciation Month | Author Talk |
