KC Poetry on the Move

We made the call and Kansas City answered. With more than 80 poetry submissions received, the selection process was challenging but we are excited to announce the four winners of the first KC Poetry on the Move contest: Lindsey Weishar, Alarie Tennille, Jerry Woods and Hannah Steinhauser.

“Our Daily Nada is excited to be involved in an initiative to bring poetry front and center in Kansas City and support the literary community that calls this city home,” said Amy Covitz and Andrea Baca, co-owners of Our Daily Nada, located in the River Market area on the KC Streetcar line.

KC Poetry on the Move is a community-wide celebration of National Poetry Month and is sponsored by the KC Streetcar Authority, Our Daily Nada, Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, Read Poetry–Andrews McMeel Publishing and VMLY&R. The diverse and engaging submissions encompass the sights, sounds and flavors of Kansas City.

“Collaborations like this strengthens our connection to the community we serve,” said Donna Mandelbaum, communications director with the KC Streetcar Authority. “The KC Streetcar not only transports our riders to their destination, but gives them the experience of exploring their community in a deeper way through partnerships with businesses and organizations on the streetcar route.”

The community-wide call for poems asked local writers to submit original works either inspired by Kansas City or with a Kansas City theme. Entries were reviewed and winners selected by panel of local poets and writers.

“I am thrilled with all that we’ve accomplished in our first year of KC Poetry on the Move. I love the partnerships we’ve formed and that we’re celebrating local poets and our city. I can’t wait to make this an annual event,” said Barbara Varanka, Board Member, Young Friends of the KC Library.

KC Poetry on the Move is working with local artists to take the winning poems and turn them into posters, which will be printed and displayed in the KC Streetcars and at KC Streetcar stops during the month of April. Winners are also invited to read their poems at KC Poetry on the Move events throughout April.

The celebration of National Poetry Month doesn’t end with this poetry contest. There are poetry-themed events throughout the month of April, featuring renowned Kansas City poets. All events are open to the public and located at Our Daily Nada at 304 Delaware Street. Details on all programs can be found at https://kclibraryfriends.org/kcpoetry and https://www.ourdailynada.com/events .

• KC Poetry on the Move Kick-off & Open Mic Night hosted by the Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library. Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Featured Poet: Sheri Purpose Hall. Saturday, April 6. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Poetry & Brunch featuring Hadara Bar-Nadav, Jenny Molberg, Erin Adair-Hodges, and Bridget Lowe. Sunday, April 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Featured Poet: Glenn North. Saturday, April 13. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Poetry Workshop with Barbara Varanka. Saturday, April 20 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Featured Poet: Jessica Ayala. Saturday, April 20. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
• KC Poetry on the Move: Featured Poet: José Faus. Saturday, April 27. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., performance begins at 7:00 p.m.

For more information about KC Poetry on the Move, including events, visit https://kclibraryfriends.org/kcpoetry.

---

About the KC Poetry on the Move Winners:

Lindsey Weishar holds an MFA in Poetry from UMKC, and works at Literacy KC in Kansas City, Missouri. She writes for Verily and Ploughshares, and her chapbook, Matchbook Night was published in 2018.

Alarie Tennille was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in the first class that admitted women. Alarie misses the ocean, but loves the writing community she’s found in Kansas City. Alarie serves on the Emeritus Board of The Writers Place and coordinates Rose Garden Readings at Loose Park.

Jerry Woods is a Project Manager in International Sales at Automatic Systems, Inc., and has a BS in Petroleum Engineering. He has published a few articles for the China Daily – China’s only National English-speaking website. Jerry also lived in Germany for six years where he was a professional dancer, choreographer and appeared on German TV in JFK: The Rock Opera and in Tony N Tina’s Wedding as Father Mark for the English Theater Frankfurt.

Hannah Steinhauser can be found scribbling speculative short stories and love poems in different nooks around the city. She has a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Kansas, is an operations manager during the day, and slings drinks at a ramen bar o’ nights.