Split This Rock offers participants opportunities to speak out, make common cause, and explore the many ways poets are working for change through their writing, activism, and community work. Director Sarah Browning said, “At times of crisis, poetry that looks directly at our world and struggles to understand, to bridge differences, to imagine other possibilities than those endlessly repeated by politicians and pundits is more important than ever.”

The three-day-long festival will be held primarily in the historic U Street neighborhood, and feature poetry readings, open mic sessions, workshops, and much more. Click here for the full event schedule and locations.

This year will feature Homero Aridjis, Sherwin Bitsui, Kathy Engel, Carlos Andrés Gómez, Douglas Kearney, Khaled Mattawa, Rachel McKibbens, Marilyn Nelson, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jose Padua, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Kim Roberts, Sonia Sanchez, Venus Thrash, Alice Walker, and honoring the life and legacy of poet-essayist-activist-teacher June Jordan.

Major contributors to the festival are Busboys and Poets, the Institute for Policy Studies, and Teaching for Change. Please click here to register or for more information.

NOTE: Full festival passes are sold out! Limited day passes are available for Thursday and Friday. Click here to purchase. To be placed on a waiting list, send an email to info@splitthisrock.org asking to be placed on the list.