BlackBerry Peach Youth Mini-Festival

The BlackBerry Peach Youth Mini-Festival is a one-day event that aims to provide young poets from around the country with dedicated time and attention to expand their writing and performance skills. We bring in renowned local poets to lead workshops and engage with the youth. 

This festival is a prime opportunity for young poets to gather, grow as writers, and build community. The Youth Mini-Festival concludes with a slam competition: Both the winner of the Youth Slam and the “Spirit of Poetry” receive cash prizes and opportunities to publish their poetry.

About the Festival 

Saturday, July 25, 2026, during the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) Annual Convention and BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam. All events will be held at the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel.

Young poets from across the country are invited to participate in this free, one-day festival. They will have access to:

  • Workshops led by renowned poets
  • Lunch with NFSPS Convention attendees
  • Fun activity and fellowship time
  • Youth poetry slam (must participate in full festival day to compete)

Workshop Descriptions:

Word is Bond led by Melissa Ferrer Civil
Our voice is the seat of our agency. In a time where our agency is constantly threatened, poetry can help us to define our stance, our boundaries, and our purpose through honest witnessing and intention to our innermost parts. This workshop is an exercise in witnessing and saying what we see.
 
The Story Kaleidoscope led by Abby Bland
In this workshop, participants will focus on crafting poems that explore a single narrative in multiple ways. We will look at some example poems and use generative writing exercises to explore the same story from different angles; whether that’s shifting point of view, tone, or exploring alternate outcomes. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. Come prepared to write, share, and discover new dimensions of your voice and your stories.
 
From Page to Mic: Transforming Writing into Performance Led by Sheri Purpose Hall
Writing a powerful poem is one skill. Performing it so the audience feels every word is another.

In this workshop, Sheri Purpose Hall guides participants through the process of transforming written work into compelling live performance. Participants will explore delivery techniques, pacing, tone, emotional resonance, and physical presence on stage. Through practice exercises and feedback, writers will learn how to move their work from the page to the microphone with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. This workshop is ideal for poets, storytellers, and writers who want to strengthen their stage presence and connect more deeply with audiences

About the Poets:

Melissa Ferrer Civil (she/they) is a gnostic, queer, Haitian-Cuban, first-generation poet, culture worker, political educator, and organizer living on Kaw, Kansa, and Oceti Sakowin lands (KCMO). They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Randolph College. Their chapbooks, BIRTHING PAINS (2020) and STENO PAD (2024), were published by Turnsol Editions, where they now serve as a poetry editor. Melissa is Director of Political Education and Movement Strategy at The Kansas City Defender, founder of the abolitionist arts and organizing series A Nation In Exile, and the first Poet Laureate of Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more at www.melissaferrerand.com
 
Abby Bland (she/they) is an award-winning Kansas City-based writer and performer whose work has appeared in a variety of publications. Her comedy show “Godzilla’s Not a Dinosaur” won best of venue at the KC Fringe in 2023 and the St. Louis “Spirit of the Fringe” in 2025.   They’re on Instagram @applestoabby and you can read more of their work at abbyblandpoetry.com.
 
 
 
 
Sheri Purpose Hall is an award-winning spoken word artist, interdisciplinary creator, and mental health advocate. She ranked number two Woman Poet in the World at the 2022 Women of the World Poetry Slam (virtual) and was named 2020 Female Spoken Word Artist of the Year. A Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Awardee and multi-year arts grant recipient, Sheri is widely published and the author of five books, including Black Girl Shattered. She serves as Executive Director of Arthropy and founder of East of Red ArtHouse.

 

How to Attend 

The Youth Mini-Festival aims to be free and accessible for all youth. We work each year to secure funding to provide scholarships to help youth and chaperones travel for the festival. 

More details to come on how to register for and attend the festival.