"Dear First Day..." A COMMUNITY POETRY SHOWCASE!

DEAR FIRST DAY...
A Community Poetry Showcase
Hosted by Birdie's Deli & The Sandwich Way Education
💛 Every First Day Has a Story. What's Yours?
Some first days are exciting.
Some first days are scary.
Some first days change our lives forever.
A first day of kindergarten.
A first day in a new school.
A first day at a new job.
A first day in a new home.
A first day after a big life change.
No matter our age, we've all had a first day we remember.
This summer, we invite children, teens, and adults throughout our community to share their stories through poetry, letters, reflections, and spoken-word pieces inspired by a simple prompt:
✏️ "Dear First Day..."
Participants may choose to:
🎤 Be considered as a Featured Community Voice and share their work live during the showcase
💻 Have their work featured in the online Dear First Day Collection hosted by The Sandwich Way Education (optional)
💛 Join a community celebration of creativity, courage, and connection!
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
🌟 Young Writers (Ages 5-8)
🌟 Youth Writers (Ages 9-12)
🌟 Teen Writers (Ages 13-17)
🌟 Community Voices (18+)
No writing experience is needed.
Your submission can be:
📝 A poem
💌 A letter
📖 A reflection
🎤 A spoken-word piece
We aren't looking for perfect writing.
We are looking for a shared experience.
EVENT DETAILS
📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
📍 Birdie's Deli
1020 E. Broadway, Suite F
Columbia, MO 65201
🎟 Registration: FREE
📝 Submission Deadline: **July 12, 2026**
Featured Community Voices will be selected from submitted entries and invited to share their work live during the event.
Whether you're 5 or 95, your story matters.
Because every first day deserves a voice.
💛 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqZuW63lYSyJ94A4e1R6FZbcVCtEaAociFIN1NJ39gq4Kl3A/viewform?usp=header
Hosted by Birdie's Deli & The Sandwich Way Education
Building confidence, empathy, literacy, and self-expression through stories, creativity, and community. 💕