LitPDX seeks to amplify marginalized voices, and welcomes all, their ideas, their events, and their words.

For details regarding specific events please contact the organizers or venues. If you are an organizer or venue and would like to reach out to us please feel free to contact us or submit an event using our submission form. We’d love to hear from you!

Young Adult Book Club (Remote)

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

We will discuss Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore. About the Book: For the past five years, Bitterblue has reigned as Queen of Monsea, heroically rebuilding her nation after her father's horrific rule. After learning about the land of Torla in the east, she sends envoys to the closest nation there: Winterkeep--a place where telepathic foxes bond with humans, and people fly across the sky in wondrous airships. But when the envoys never return, having drowned under suspicious circumstances, Bitterblue sets off for Winterkeep herself, along with her spy Hava and her trusted colleague Giddon. On the way, tragedy strikes again--a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications. Meanwhile, in Winterkeep, Lovisa Cavenda waits and watches, a fire inside her that is always hungry. The teenage daughter…

$15 – $25

Naomi Klein in Conversation With Miko Vergun & Isaac Vergun

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

From Naomi Klein — award-winning journalist, one of the foremost voices for climate justice, and author of This Changes Everything and On Fire — comes How to Change Everything (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), an empowering, engaging young readers guide to understanding and battling climate change. Warmer temperatures. Fires in the Amazon. Superstorms. These are just some of the effects of climate change that we are already experiencing. The good news is that we can all do something about it. A movement is already underway to combat not only the environmental effects of climate change but also to fight for climate justice and make a fair and livable future possible for everyone. And young people are not just part of that movement, they are leading…

Free

Pop Culture Poems! a Youth Poetry Slam Workshop | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

This workshop will take a look at the ways poetry and pop culture intersect. We will practice inhabiting the voices of fictional characters, historical figures, and celebrities when tackling important themes in the work we create – from the likes of Mario to Frida Kahlo, Beyonce to Jon Snow. Led by Julia Gaskill, this workshop will experiment with using pop culture in writing, particularly in slam poetry, and will also do a quick rundown on how to write a slam poem. — RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtualandia-2021-workshop-and-qa-sessions-tickets-142756002045 — Workshops are free and open to all students. These will be hosted via Google Meet and led by talented youth and adult slam poets. For questions about this workshop, please contact Olivia Jones-Hall, Youth Programs Manager, at olivia@literary-arts.org. —…

Free

Renée Watson in Conversation With Nicola Yoon

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

From Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Renée Watson comes a love story about not only a romantic relationship, but how a girl finds herself and falls in love with who she really is. When Nala Robertson reluctantly agrees to attend an open mic night for her cousin-sister-friend Imani's birthday, she finds herself falling in instant love with Tye Brown, the MC. He's perfect, except… Tye is an activist and is spending the summer putting on events for the community when Nala would rather watch movies and try out the new seasonal flavors at the local creamery. In order to impress Tye, Nala tells a few tiny lies to have enough in common with him. As they spend more time together, sharing more…

Free

All About Slam! a Q&A Session | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Learn about the slam poetry process, #Virtualandia, and ask any questions you have whether it’s about form, performance tips, or inspiration sources. This Q&A session will be led by local experts in slam poetry—Jacque Dixon, an educator and coach for our Brave New Voices team, and Jordan Wolmut, 2019 Verselandia! grand slam champion and Brave New Voices poet. Olivia Jones-Hall, Youth Programs Manager, will also be in the session to answer any logistical questions about submission, prizes, competition rules, or otherwise. — RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtualandia-2021-workshop-and-qa-sessions-tickets-142756002045 — All #Virtualandia programming is free to students. For questions about this Q&A session, please contact Olivia Jones-Hall, Youth Programs Manager, at olivia@literary-arts.org. — About the Competition #Virtualandia! 2021 is an exciting opportunity for students from eligible* Portland-area high schools…

Free

From the Page to the Stage! a Youth Poetry Slam Workshop | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

You’ve got the words, so how do you say them? This workshop will provide the author different methods for how to bring out the best performance out of themself and their poem. We’ll read and discuss a few poems, practice some fresh techniques together, and have plenty of time for questions. — RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtualandia-2021-workshop-and-qa-sessions-tickets-142756002045 — Workshops are free and open to all students. These will be hosted via Google Meet and led by talented youth and adult slam poets. For questions about this workshop, please contact Emilly Prado, Director of Youth Programs, at emilly@literary-arts.org. — About the Competition #Virtualandia! 2021 is an exciting opportunity for students from eligible* Portland-area high schools to take part in a dynamic virtual slam poetry competition presented by Literary…

Free

Feedback Session #1 for Youth Slam Poets | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Get 1:1 support from slam experts during 15-20 minute sessions whether you need support with writing, revision, performance, or anything else. Co-hosted by Jacque Dixon and Julia Gaskill. — Literary Arts will share feedback session sign ups soon. in the meantime, please add your information here if you’d like to be notified when they’re published: https://forms.gle/QYTm1mgt348QE1LG7 — Feedback sessions are free and open to all #Virtualandia students. These will be hosted via Google Meet. For questions about feedback sessions, please contact Emilly Prado, Director of Youth Programs, at emilly@literary-arts.org. — About the Competition #Virtualandia! 2021 is an exciting opportunity for students from eligible* Portland-area high schools to take part in a dynamic virtual slam poetry competition presented by Literary Arts. Competitors will take to the…

Free

Performance that Pops! a Youth Poetry Slam Workshop | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Refine your performance chops in anticipation of #Virtualandia! and more at this workshop co-led by two amazing slam poets—Jacque Dixon, an educator and coach for our Brave New Voices team, and Jolly Wrapper, third place Verselandia! 2018 winner and Brave New Voices poet. Topics may include projecting your voice with confidence, extending metaphors, transitioning themes, memorization tips, body language, and anything in between. — RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtualandia-2021-workshop-and-qa-sessions-tickets-142756002045 — Workshops are free and open to all students. These will be hosted via Google Meet and led by talented youth and adult slam poets. For questions about this workshop, please contact Emilly Prado, Director of Youth Programs, at emilly@literary-arts.org. — About the Competition #Virtualandia! 2021 is an exciting opportunity for students from eligible* Portland-area high schools to…

Free

Teen Graphic Novel Group

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

We are starting new teen graphic novel group. Our first discussion is on March 16 at 4 p.m. Contact Jamie McNeely at Jamie.mcneely@gmail.com for additional details and the Zoom invite.

Free

Feedback Session #2 for Youth Slam Poets | #Virtualandia! 2021

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Get 1:1 support from slam experts during 15-20 minute sessions whether you need support with writing, revision, performance, or anything else. Co-hosted by Jacque Dixon and Alex Dang. — Literary Arts will share feedback session sign ups soon. in the meantime, please add your information here if you’d like to be notified when they’re published: https://forms.gle/QYTm1mgt348QE1LG7 — Feedback sessions are free and open to all #Virtualandia students. These will be hosted via Google Meet. For questions about feedback sessions, please contact Emilly Prado, Director of Youth Programs, at emilly@literary-arts.org. — About the Competition #Virtualandia! 2021 is an exciting opportunity for students from eligible* Portland-area high schools to take part in a dynamic virtual slam poetry competition presented by Literary Arts. Competitors will take to the…

Free