Collective V oices\, originally a sisterhood of five poets\, is a Washington-a rea poetry group that traveled to London\, England\, in 1998 to participat e in &ldquo\;In Celebration of My Sisters\,&rdquo\; an International Women &rsquo\;s Month celebration. The group\, now consisting of four poets\, in cluding its first male member\, is best known for poems of social conscien ce\, empowerment\, and inspiration. Collective Voices continues to maintai n strong community ties throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
\nFounded in 1995\, the group&rsquo\;s current members are Sylvia Dianne "Ladi Di" Beverly\, Andre "Brenardo" Taylor\, Billye Okera\, and the group &rsquo\;s founder\, J. Joy "Sistah Joy" Matthews Alford\, who was appointe d the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Prince George&rsquo\;s County\, Maryland\ , in 2018. In addition to performing their original poetry\, the group pre sents poetry workshops and coordinates arts-oriented activities throughout the metropolitan region.
\nNotably\, the group presented an annual arts-based tribute\, Poetry Extravaganza\, for 20 years at the Martin Luth er King Jr. Memorial Library\, honoring the life and legacy of the late Re v. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With support from community groups\, area bu sinesses\, and organizations&mdash\;including mayoral proclamations&mdash\ ;the event&rsquo\;s audience grew significantly over the years.
\nCo llective Voices\, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024\, has self -published two chapbooks: Poetry and Prose for a New Millennium (2000) and Experience\, Expression\, Expansion (1996). Its members have also publish ed eight individual books of poetry. Collective Voices&rsquo\; poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies. The group and its individual members hav e received numerous awards and recognitions for artistic excellence\, comm unity service\, and literary activism\, including the 2002 Poet Laureate S pecial Award from the DCCAH for "outstanding contributions to the art of p oetry in Washington\, DC."
\nWith its debut performance at a women&r squo\;s shelter\, Collective Voices has continued its socially relevant pr esentations at libraries\, churches\, schools\, galleries\, youth and seni or support facilities\, and various regional\, national\, and internationa l conferences and conventions.
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Poet of Distinct
ion\, Grace Cavalieri\, is the author of 26 poetry books
and chapbooks\, as well as 26 produced plays. Her most recent play\, Anna
Nicole: Blonde Glory\, was produced by Theatre for the New City in New Yor
k City in 2012. Grace has also spent 48 years on public radio\, celebratin
g her long-running show The Poet and The Poem\, which is now recorded at T
he Library of Congress.
In addition to her writing and broadcastin g career\, Grace&rsquo\;s distinguished background includes co-founding WP FW-FM\, serving as Associate Director for Children&rsquo\;s Programming at PBS\, and later as Senior Media Program Officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
\nHer contributions to literature and the arts have been widely recognized. In 2015\, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington Independent Review of Books. Other hon ors include the George Garrett Award from the Association of Writers &\ ; Writing Programs for "Service to Literature\," two Allen Ginsberg Awards \, the Paterson Award\, the Bordighera Prize\, the Folger&rsquo\;s Columbi a Award\, a PEN Fiction Award\, the National Association of Working Women Award\, and CPB&rsquo\;s Silver Medal.
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We are excited to also welcome guest musician Doc Powell\, who will perf orm during the event. Doc Powell is the Musical Director of the renowned M alcolm X Drummers and Dancers.
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