Los Angeles Poet Society 11 Year Angels
Tax deductible
The Beyond Baroque Foundation is the Fiscal Sponsor of the LOS ANGELES POET SOCIETY.
We are so excited to be turning 11 years old! Since our birth in 2009, we have been dedicated to serving, through diversity and inclusion, Creative Community across Los Angeles county and beyond, by being the bridge that connects them.
From the launch of our first action in November 2009, the SoapBox Poets Open Mic born on the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk, offering anyone to "Step up the SoapBox and share your truth!", to starting the 1st Writers' showcase as part of downtown Los Angeles' monthly artwallk, to the more recent virtual events such as One Mic One Globe, the New Author Showcase, Theme Open Mic, we have been a presence and a resource to Poets across LA.
We are Artivists, Musicians, Poets, Publishers, Small Presses, Bookstores, Writers, lovers of creativity, and we are over 2,600 members strong. We collaborate with other artistic collectives and use our words to reach the masses by participating in 100 Thousand Poets for Change, Lit Crawl Los Angeles, and many more! We also have poetry contests, and hold writing challenges for creative community.
The Los Angeles Poet Society hosts an average of 75 events a year and all of these events are FREE to the people.
We don't ask for "membership fees" or dues, we don't charge at events, we don't charge to publish people on our website, www.lapoetsociety.org, and we don't charge to promote artist books, merch, or offerings. We are a FREE SERVICE.
We want to remain a free service to the people. We need donation support to make this happen.
Where your support will go:
We have 4 focus areas: Technology, Publishing, Creative Community, & Operations
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We do need help in sustaining our online presence. This is essential for us - online services (Website Hosting, Domain renewal, software applications, Internet service), need to stay strong. We will be launching our new online literary magazine, Acid Verse, by the end of the year!
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We need help to publish our chapbooks and anthologies to launch and maintain Los Angeles Poet Society Press. We have Los Angeles Poets for Justice! A Document for the People scheduled for release by the end of year - a document capturing response from the people since the untimely passing of George Floyd.
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We need help to sponsor Poetry and Writing workshops to continue to nurture new and seasoned voices. Sponsorship will also help us bring in established Master Poets to lead workshops and facilitate Literary Conversations.
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We also need help to help support our Operations -- the behind the scenes work -- to bring all these wonderful services to fruition and ensure their success. Operations funding would also help us continue to produce exciting LAPS merchandise, like our L.A. Poet T-Shirts, and allow that to be a supportive source for us.
This is why we are seeking Sponsorships, Donation/Gift support with a goal of $25,000, and word-of-mouth support, to grow our network and sustain the great work we have done! We will use these funds to pay for Poetry Workshops, this will pay our featured Poets, Artists, Master Poets, Hosts, Event Curators, Online expenses, Operations and Publishing. This funding will sustain us for the next year and allow us to do even more than 75 events a year!
Please consider supporting us -- vocal empowerment is a gift that we all have -- but with the right guidance, it can be so healing. In these times of isolation, our events have brought so many together (across the WORLD!) and allowed people to express themselves and release so much trauma.
Please keep us afloat! All donors become Los Angeles Poet Society Angels. Our Angels are all named and listed on our website: www.lapoetsociety.org/sponsors
Thank you so much for your kind attention and WRITE ON!
~~~~ Testimonials ~~~~
Los Angeles poet society means endless creative expression! LAPS has given me the opportunity to be an editor and creator of my own literary journal, Acid Verse! It’s also connected me to other writers, who are now my friends and comrades. LAPS has given me a gift of family and I will always cherish this. I’m so honored to grow with you all
- Rosie
The Los Angeles Poet Society built a bridge for writers to cross into a sacred realm of poetic connection and community empowerment. When life shifted into isolation and chaos, LAPS kept poetry alive by inviting writers to stay grounded with fresh ink and flowing words. From open mics to writing workshops to marathons reading for justice and beyond, LAPS has been a guiding force for hope that encourages the poetry community to write the futures we know can exist. Poetry radiates a courageous kinship only LAPS can embrace and for this I am so honored to be a part of this creative family. - Alex
It is an honor to be a part of the LAPS and a diverse community that shares different knowledge and perspectives within their writings, stories, thoughts, or any way they can freely express themselves. The LAPS helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and being able to openly express myself and who I am. There's this magical feeling when you know you are not alone and the people who are supporting you and showing you love can be a stranger who knows the pain and the range of emotions we go through because sometimes it can be hard. And sometimes all we need is someone to hear what we have to say and that's why I love being apart of the LAPS.
- Angel
In a big, spread-out city like Los Angeles, it's difficult to find poetic community. Thanks to Los Angeles Poet Society's multiple open mics, workshops, and other wonderful programming, I've found a place to call home. LAPS uplifts unheard voices and gives opportunities for self-expression. I am honored to be a part of their legacy. - Karo
Fundraising team (2)
Jessica Wilson Cardenas
Organizer
San Fernando, CA
Beyond Baroque
Beneficiary
Karo Ska
Team member