Newtown Quakers to Hear About “Poetry’s Power to Work for Justice"

Newtown Quakers to Hear About “Poetry’s Power to Work for Justice"

Mary Kokesh, former English teacher and creator of the Trenton Poetry Contest for Justice. will present a program at the Newtown Quaker Meetinghouse, 219 Court Street, at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 27. Following the presentation, there will be worship in the manner of Friends at 11:00 a.m. with people speaking out of silence as they are moved to do so.The public is welcome at all events. (newtownfriendsmeeting.org).

Poetry contest winners Bob Anderson, Curtis Spence, Joanna Buchner, Todd Evans, and Ed Kimble will share their winning poems, along with host Mary Kokesh, contest creator and coordinator.

As a former English teacher of 31 years focused on the intersection of justice and the arts, Mary Kokesh created in 2018 an annual Social Justice Poetry and Spoken Word Contest under the auspices of the Greater Trenton Area Chapter of The Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (CENJC). She was inspired by what author of The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander, wrote when she said that justice work needs "everyone."

Kokesh said, “ Since that day over eight years ago, thousands of dollars have been awarded to affirm and recognize poets who speak for justice. Brand Asset Management has since become the contest corporate sponsor and businessman/songwriter Paul Kokesh and poet/community leader Todd Evans have joined the leadership team. Judges of this contest include writer and justice activist Richard O’Brien, former editor of Sports Illustrated magazine, and Nikk Aryanna Darling, councilwoman and justice advocate in Allentown, New Jersey.

Kokesh says, “We all know how some great works of literature have changed the world. I believe that literature on a local level can greatly affect our lives, bonding us by opening us to feelings and facts that create a more real picture of what’s going on around and within us.”

Newtown Friends Meeting, co-founded by the Quaker artist and minister, Edward Hicks, in 1815, holds services every First Day (Sunday). First Day classes for children and adults are at9:45 a.m.and Meeting for Worship is at11:00 a.m.Professional childcare is provided.All meetings are open to the public and visitors are warmly welcomed.