A Dominican and Latinx poetry showcase bringing writers from Northern New Jersey and New York City together for an evening of poetry, culture, and community—followed by an open mic, book sales, and author signings.

In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, writer and poet Massiel Desireé is launching a new Dominican and Latinx poetry collective serving Northern New Jersey and New York City—including the Bronx, Washington Heights, Brooklyn, and the communities between them.

Sponsored by the Dominican Writers Association, the inaugural In Our Own Tongues showcase will bring together an invited group of emerging and established poets for an evening of live poetry, cultural expression, and literary community.

Featured poets will share work shaped by the languages, histories, neighborhoods, inheritances, migrations, loves, losses, and contradictions that inform Dominican and Latinx life. English, Spanish, Spanglish, and multilingual work will all be welcome.

The evening will conclude with a community open mic, creating space for additional poets and writers to share their work. Participating authors will also be invited to bring books for sale and signing, giving guests an opportunity to meet local writers, discover new work, and support the literary community directly.

This inaugural showcase is envisioned as the beginning of a recurring monthly or bimonthly poetry series. Each gathering will explore a different theme while continuing to make room for featured readings, emerging voices, cultural conversation, community participation, and literary exchange.

The date, venue, featured poets, inaugural theme, open-mic registration details, and bookselling information will be announced as plans are finalized.

Subscribe to Massiel Desireé Writes on Substack for the latest details about this event, including the date and venue, featured-poet announcements, open-mic registration, and bookselling information.