"I believe that all organizing is science fiction - that we are shaping the future we long for and have not yet experienced."  - adrienne marie brown

Why do you write? Why do artists create art? What is your purpose as an artist? As poets, storytellers, writers, and creators, art is a platform that elevates the social change we want to see in the world and a modality to express changes in our own beings. As activists, organizers, and change-makers, we are shaping a world we haven't yet known. Our words carry the magic of our ancestors; they are the legacies we build in real time. Together, we have the power to manifest worlds we haven't yet imagined, draw people to movements, provide a mirror for our struggles, and build power for our communities.

Join API Chaya's Queer Network Program and poet performers Ebo Barton and Ben Yisrael for a writing workshop and performance space on how we can use our words to engage audiences to become change makers too!


About the Facilitators:

Ben Yisrael is a performance poet, storyteller, and writer. Among his performance accomplishments are the 2010 Dallas Poetry Grind Slam Champion, the 2012 Individual World Poetry Slam 17th ranked poet, the 2014 NPS Haiku Champion, and the 2017 & 2019 Seattle Poetry Slam Grand Slam Champion.  He is the co-founder of Mic Check, one of the longest-running poetry readings in Texas, and is a founder and curator at Alchemy Poetry Series in Seattle, WA. He released his debut poetry collection “A Gorgeous New Language” in August of 2020.

Ebo Barton comes from salt— from the moment before worlds converge. You may have seen Ebo's work in Natasha Marin's 2021 Washington State Book Award Finalist “Black Imagination” with audiobook read by Tony award and Grammy award-winner Daveed Diggs, at The Seattle’s Sounders’ Lumen Field, and online on Write About Now, Button Poetry and All Def Poetry channels. In 2016, they placed 5th in the World at the
Individual World Poetry Slam. Their first book, “Insubordinate” is a 2021 Washington State Book Award Finalist. A leader in arts and activism, they are committed to creating opportunities for others to organize, heal and rejoice. 2020 Jack Straw Writing Fellow, Ebo Barton's written, performative and community work demand societal reckoning.


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API Chaya's Queer Network Program is an organizing body for QTBIPOC survivors, dedicated to building community through healing gatherings, food, intergenerational support groups, racial and disability justice, political education, skill shares/trainings, resource/fund redistribution, and intentionally partnering with Black, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and immigrant queer/trans leaders.