Real Change & Pongo Poetry Project’s December Reading

Don’t miss Real Change and Pongo Poetry Project’s reading at the December Belltown Art Walk, emceed by nikkita oliver!

The event will celebrate the debut of Real Change’s third zine, “Heal,” featuring art, poetry and prose, all created by Real Change vendors! Vendor artists will read poetry — and sell their own work at the event!

And mentors from Pongo Poetry Project will read selections of heartfelt poetry by the systems-involved youth it serves. Plus, Pongo will have its youth poetry anthologies available for sale along with raffle prizes.

Refreshments and food will be provided. Don’t miss an incredible evening celebrating writing, resilience, and community — RSVP today!

is a 29-year-old nonprofit whose mission is to engage youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and growth. Pongo was founded on the knowledge that poetry writing offers a unique vessel for healing from devastating trauma.

At the heart of the program is the Pongo Method, an evidence-based, trauma-informed technique for teaching poetry, created in collaboration with child psychiatrists, expressive writing therapists, and academics. Pongo has developed an approach to help youth write about painful life experiences – often for the first time – in a way that promotes insight and healing.

Since 1994, has provided opportunity and a voice to homeless Seattleites while taking action for economic, social and racial justice. Our Vendor Program provides meaningful employment and community to hundreds of low-income folks. Self-employed street paper vendors sell our weekly newspaper on the streets of Seattle while accessing vital resources and advocating for long-term systemic change.

Since 2021, we have published three vendor zines featuring artwork, poetry and prose created entirely by Real Change vendors. These zines reflect the creativity, perspectives and lived experiences of our community. Vendors sell the zines on the streets of Seattle alongside the paper – promoting and making an income off of the artwork they create.

Nikkita Oliver is the executive director of Creative Justice, an arts-based healing engaged space for youth and young adults impacted by the school-to-Pr*son pipeline and other harmful systems and institutions. They are also an adjunct professor in the Seattle University School of Law and a steering committee member with House Our Neighbors.Nikkita has opened for Cornel West and Chuck D of Public Enemy, featured on the Breakfast Club, KUOW's The Week in Review, Cut Stories, and performed on The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert. Nikkita's writing has been published in the South Seattle Emerald, Yes! Magazine, Crosscut, the Establishment, Last Real Indians, The Seattle Weekly, and The Stranger. Nikkita has organized with No New Youth J*il, Decriminalize Seattle, Covid-19 Mutual Aid - Seattle Free Them All, and the Seattle Peoples Party.

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