Poetry Partner Programs

Bringing Poetic Medicine to Real People in Real Places

Through the Poetry Partners program, The Institute for Poetic Medicine is able to more widely fulfill its mission to offer tools and support to heal body, mind, and spirit through the creative and therapeutic process of hearing, speaking, and writing poetry.

With these partners and their program participants, we apply and magnify poetic medicine in creative ways within our local communities and throughout the world, allowing marginalized voices to be heard.

Learn more about the current IPM-funded Board-approved programs below.

Poetry as a Tool for Wellness

Coordinator: Cathey Capers

Training series, manual and webinars that PREPARE PEER-FACILITATORS to use poetry to enhance the skills needed to foster wellness for themselves—and provide a creative pathway to those facing mental health challenges.

Words That Heal

Facilitator: Tara Broderick

A poetry series for PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S Disease and/or their care partners. The overall goal of the series is to explore feelings about living with Parkinson's Disease by reading, writing and sharing poems in a safe and supportive environment.

Stories of Arrival: Refugee and Immigrant Youth Voices, a Poetry Project

Facilitator: Merna Ann Hecht

Helping REFUGEES & IMMIGRANT YOUTH find their voices and tell their stories of resilience, trauma, loss, and displacement through poem-making.

Past Poetry Partner Programs

The programs listed on this page show the history of the collaboration possibilities created by the IPM's Poetry Partner branch of operations.

Write of Passage

Facilitator: Meredith Heller

Write of Passage in the Prisons offers WOMEN INMATES a medium through which to explore and express who they've been and where they come from, how their prison experience affects them, and to imagine into what's possible as they move forward.

WisdomVerse

Facilitator: Magdalena Montagne

A poetry curriculum for SENIORS and those with ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA, and other cognitive and physical impairments.

In the Shelter of Poetry

Facilitator: Cyra Dumitru

Creative expression and emotional support for STUDENTS struggling with situational and chronic DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, TRAUMATIC MEMORY, BEREAVEMENT.

Who we are, Where we live Writing Workshops

Facilitator: Cindy Washabaugh

FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY in the Collinwood Neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio

SOLA Poetry Club

Facilitator: James Elsaesser

The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) is an AFGHAN-LED PRIVATE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS providing a rigorous education that promotes critical thinking, a sense of purpose, and respect for self and others.

Life Lines

Facilitator: Diane Kaufman

A Poetry and Expressive Arts Group for MEDICAL STUDENTS

Writing Our Relationship with Trees

Facilitator: Brian R. W. Sunset

Programming for PEOPLE WITH PTSD, AND SCHIZOPHRENIA, interested in exploring personal growth opportunities through poetry.

Metaphor Medicine

Facilitator: Wayne Gilbert

A Creativity Lab on-line in collaboration with The Davis Phinney Foundation exploring the power of words for LIVING BETTER WITH PARKINSON'S.

Finding Our Voices

Facilitator: Judith Prest

Poetry groups serving adults who are in RECOVERY FROM ADDICTION.

Unlocked Poetry

Facilitator: Wayne Gilbert

Poetry circles HELPING INMATES at Sterling Correctional Facility to discover inner resources for personal transformation through reading and writing poetry.

The Rediscovery Project

Facilitator: Krista Wissing-Harrison

A poetry / art therapy group adapted to the cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs of people affected by BRAIN INJURY.

Writing from the Edge: Poems of Empowerment

Facilitator: Brian Sunset

A collaboration project allowing poetry circles to be offered to ADULTS LIVING WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.

Clubhouse Project

Facilitator: Lisa DeVuono

Workshops that became the framework for the PEER TRAINING manual Poetry as a Tool for Recovery: An Easy-to-Use Guide in Eight Sessions

Poetry Workshops for Youth Affected by Incarceration

Facilitator: Kim Nelson

Poetry workshops for YOUTH AFFECTED BY INCARCERATION

Embracing Uncertainty

Facilitators: Tonia Lyon, Ashleigh Glass and Samantha Overbay

A workshop series for FAMILIES WHOSE CHILD HAS CANCER, a life-altering, rare or terminal illness, helping them to focus on believing and healing.

Word Fire

Facilitator: Birch Dwyer

A Poetic Medicine Program offering workshops to UNHOUSED WOMEN at Jean’s Place Transitional Housing Residence.

RiseUp! Poetry Project

Facilitators: James Elsaesser & Prosline Saint-Armand

A series of poetry circles where survivors of DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE gather to read, write, and share healing poetry. In doing so, women provide deep support and care to each other.

Finding Voice Poetry Workshop

Facilitator: Annie Holden

Poetry workshops offered weekly at a HOMELESS SHELTER

Poetry Heals

Facilitator: Jacinta White

A program brought to DETAINED YOUTH at Guilford Detention Center

Project Star

Facilitator: Jim Hornsby

Monthly poetry workshops brought to a home for women in EARLY RECOVERY FROM CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY.