DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO POETRY 2026 (A Poet's Reunion)

DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO POETRY! (A Poet’s Reunion)

Great Publishing Company LLC in partnership with Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association invites you to start the year off right with poetry and poets. Join us for the 7th DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO POETRY! Saturday, January 3, 2026, doors open at 6:30, at The Athenaeum 201 Prince Street Alexandria, Virginia - curated by Northern VA Fine Arts Association Poet In Residence, Jakarta

Network with like-minded artists in anticipation of a great poetic year.

NO REFUNDS

CLOSED MIC REGISTRATION - email [email protected]

The History: On Saturday, January 5, 2008, in Hyattsville, Maryland, Great Publishing Company, LLC presented DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO POETRY. Inspired by Kuroji Ntu's poem of the same name, we gathered in a spirit of creative comradery and 25 poets poured their heARTs onto the stage. Nostalgia struck, via a post of the list of performers from that night on social media, and we were reminded of the multifaceted gift that poetry has been to us as lovers of the art of poetry. You asked us to recreate it, so January 5, 2019, we did it in a sold-out room at Kora Restaurant with 25 more poets on the list. In an effort to not let “it” happen to poetry we continue with a reminder that we wish to share with you as a lover and creator of poetry. You loved it, so we brought it back again on January 11, 2020, at The Morrison house. We skipped it in 2021 (You know why) and brought it back again to The Morrison House on January 22, 2022. In 2023 we welcomed poets in February in Delray Virginia. In 2025 on January 4th welcomed you to join us at The Athenaeum and we will welcome you again on January 3, 2026 to The Athenaeum, a beautiful gallery in the heart of Alexandria 201 Prince Street at 6:30 pm.

Sponsored by Great Publishing Company LLC, hosted by KaNikki Jakarta, The First Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria Virginia

Your Founder/Curator KaNikki Jakarta

Inaugural Poet In Residence – Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association

The First Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia

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Host or Publisher KaNikki Jakarta, Inaugural Poet In Residence