Stats & Stanzas 2026

A Public Health of Healing, Resistance, & Resurgence

Stats & Stanzas 2026

— Living Room

“against the relentless laughter of evil

there is less and less living room

and where are my loved ones?

It is time to make our way home.”

– June Jordan, (1982)

In our ever-present moment of continued state-sanctioned violence – from anti-trans violence and erasure, to racialized pol-ICE violence, to ongoing settler-colonial violence in Palestine, to [insert], to [insert], to [insert] – what does it mean to have/find living room? As home, as homeplace, as belonging. Living room as a place – the sanctuary of sofa, being held, heard, nurtured, loved on. Living room as space – to breathe, to be full, to be whole, to move freely, to unfold, to be allowed/aloud. Living room as invitation – to grow, to be seated, to rise-up, to move in solidarity. What does it take for public health and our communities to protect/preserve room to live / living room / our living rooms?

In a time when LOVE *and* RESISTANCE must be simultaneous acts, this event will illuminate the necessity of both STATS *and* STANZAS to create public health futures of radical possibility.

We invite you to join us for an evening of healing, resistance, and solidarity, featuring poetry readings from a lineup of poets whose work embodies the spirit of poetic health justice. Featured guests include:

· Poet Brianna Renae (2018 & 2026 Slamlandia Grand Slam Champion)

· Poet Henneh Kwaku Kyereh

· DJ SoundsByDontā

· Music artist Nafisaria Mathews

· Photographer Sai Stone (ShotsBySai)

Friday April 24th

6:00 – 9:00p (open mic 6:00-7:00p)

The Skyline Room

Hilton Portland Downtown

921 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204

Bring the fam. Bring the homies. Bring the kids. Bring the notepads. Bring the love.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher OHSU-PSU School of Public Health