Party for the People: A Recap

On Thursday March 14, Amarachi—a Black-owned, Brooklyn-based restaurant—hosted Party for the People, a poetry pop-up dance party co-presented by Cave Canem and Lambda Literary, founding members of the Poetry Coalition. The party was part of the Poetry Coalition’s March programming that explored themes of Poetry & Democracy. The program featured pop-up readings from Cave Canem and Lambda Literary-affiliated poets as well as an eclectic set by Cave Canem’s Workshops & Administrative Fellow Della Green aka DJ RIVERA.
DJ RIVERA moved a crowd of more than 160 attendees while performances by featured poets Kay Ulanday Barrett, Victoria Newton Ford, Donika Kelly, Omotara James and Danez Smith punctuated the evening. One attendee noted, “My biggest takeaway was how inclusive and fun the experience was.” Another echoed this sentiment by describing the event as “joyful and inclusive. Poetry was raw—very refreshing.” See photos of the night’s highlights below!
- Lambda Literary fellow and finalist for a Gwendolyn Brooks Open-Mic Award Kay Ulanday Barrett performs
- Lambda Literary fellow and poet Victoria Newton Ford performs.
- Cave Canem’s Workshops & Administrative Fellow, also known as DJ RIVERA, setting the mood.
- Cave Canem fellow and 2018 Kate Tufts Discovery Award Donika Kelly performs.
- Attendees of Party for the People enjoying DJ Rivera’s beats.
- Cave Canem fellow and winner of a Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry, Danez Smith performs.