An Ottawa-based poetry organization is launching a new initiative that will use proceeds from its events to benefit the community. The group, named Poets for the People, recently announced its plans after taking a year-long break from hosting spoken word events.
The first spoken word open mic event will feature at least 26 local poets and take place on October 26.
“The idea behind Poets for the People was to create a community with all the poets we’ve met over the years and to provide a safe space for them to express themselves through poetry and storytelling,” said Sandra Bittar-Minger, the organization’s founder.
Funds raised from the events will support community outreach initiatives. “This includes giving back to small businesses, local organizations, and even international communities,” Bittar-Minger explained.
The organization generates revenue through ticket sales. While performing poets receive free entry, audience members are charged about $40 each. Before the rebranding, the organization typically attracted 80 to 90 people to its open mic events, with one summer event drawing over 100 attendees.
Previously, Open Mic Night focused solely on spoken word events and writing workshops. Now, as Poets for the People, Bittar-Minger plans to continue hosting spoken word events while introducing new programs.
“We are currently establishing partnerships with children’s shelters, but we are open to evolving our efforts to support all communities in need, including students and single mothers,” she said.
Outreach is a key focus for the group. They also aim to gather volunteers to help individuals develop their skills and meet like-minded people. Poets for the People seeks to provide a platform for Ottawa poets to share their stories and foster emotional connections.
“We’re bringing all these creatives together because they have a love for poetry. This space can be healing, as telling one’s story can be therapeutic. There is great encouragement when people embrace your stories,” Bittar-Minger said.
Emelie Jaquez, a Christian blogger and spoken word poet, expressed excitement about the new initiative. “I think it’ll be a great opportunity to dive deeper into hearing people’s stories and sharing beliefs,” she said.
Jaquez credits Open Mic Night with reigniting her passion for spoken word poetry after a ten-year break. “At first, I was really scared because it had been so long, but Sandra was so encouraging and kind,” Jaquez recalled. “When you see others doing what you love, it inspires your writing. You leave feeling inspired by others’ work, which encourages you to write.”
Bittar-Minger wants to create a welcoming environment for artists, similar to her experience when she first shared her poetry online.
The organization also aims to promote diversity within the poetic community. “Poets for the People is a safe space where spoken word poets from various backgrounds can come together to share their work and support one another,” Bittar-Minger said in a promotional video on Instagram.
Small businesses are encouraged to participate as vendors at events, offering everything from art to clothing. Bittar-Minger noted that the open mic events attract large crowds, providing valuable exposure for these businesses.
Bille Abdalla, co-founder of Made With Sankofa, shared her experience. “I met Sandra at another event where I was selling smoothies. She liked our items and invited us to sell at her upcoming event. I could really feel the sense of community and good energy there.”
Khaleefa “Apollo The Child” Hamdan, a spoken word poet and rapper, emphasized the importance of community involvement for groups like Poets for the People. “For anything to grow in the city, there needs to be collaboration among participants,” he said.
Hamdan believes Ottawa is a great city to support the growth of Poets for the People. “There’s a lot of interest in poetry here. It’s a niche thing, but there are many cultural pockets in Ottawa that people may not know about unless they seek them out,” he explained.
Bittar-Minger wants newcomers to feel comfortable and safe at Poets for the People events. “I hope that they feel at home,” she said.
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