Ohio Poetry Association Blog

We are pleased to announce our new OPA Regional Poet Ambassadors, serving from Fall 2026 through Fall 2028. Southwest Ohio: Zinnia Stewart   Zinnia (Zeda Stew) Stewart, Writer, Spoken Word Artist, Speaker, Host, Oral Historian and Community Engagement Coordinator, is the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati. She is a poet, storyteller, and teaching artist whose work centers Black history, motherhood, and the power of narrative as a tool for connection and liberation. A Milwaukee native, Zinnia brings lived experience and creative vision to her community work, building programs and partnerships that invite dialogue, reflection, and belonging. Through spoken word and public engagement, she bridges history and the present, helping audiences connect the legacy of freedom to contemporary voices and lived realities. Learn more about Zinnia at @zedastew .  Northwest Ohio: Sandra Rivers-Gill   Sandra Rivers-Gill is the Lucas...

SE Ohio Open Mics, Workshops, Festivals, Bookfairs, and Open Readings : “Words on Wednesdays,” open mic from 6:30 – 8:30 pm for authors, including poetry, fiction, memoirists, and singer-songwriters, hosted by former Athens Poet Laureate, Stephanie Kendrick, the second Wed. of every month at the SideBar. Sign-up at 6pm “ Designated Space ” poetry, fiction, memoir, spoken word at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, every Tuesday evening from 9:00pm – 11:30 pm. Athens Poetry Group meets every second Tuesday at the Athens County Public Library The Landing in Portsmouth, OH: Open Mic for spoken word, poetry, etc. on the third Thurs. of each month.  Upcoming features include Daniel Lasalle (July 23) and Damian Russel (August). Contact Kevin LeMaster on Facebook for more info. ALAS (Appalachian Literary Arts and Storytelling Festival) in Nelsonville, OH, on October 3 & 4, 2026. For information check this link   Call for Work: Sheila-Na-Gig editions is currently open for submissions for...