April Events

National Poetry Month is upon us, and here are my upcoming events! Also, as many have requested, here is the video of the speech I gave at my reception. Special thanks to Poetry Center San Jose for co-sponsoring these events. Learn more about all PCSJ does to promote poetry in the South Bay at pcsj.org. If you have questions, email me at info@thedavidperez.com. If you want reminders as events get closer, follow my Twitter @dperezer. Enjoy your poetry month!

• April 5
  Milpitas Library Poetry Reading
  3pm
  The Milpitas poetry community is truly extraordinary. I’m proud to be in their space once again to read alongside Erica Goss (Poet Laureate of Los Gatos) and Kim Johnson (spoken word sensation). The event also features two former Milpitas Poetry Slam winners, Liala Zaray and Ahsan Zahid. The event comes complete with free food and musical guest, cellist Freya Seeburger. I will also give a poetry workshop at the library at 1pm. Both the workshop and the reading will take place in the auditorium. Email Lauren Teixeira at lteixeira@sccl.org or visit the Facebook event for more info.
• April 10 and 19
  Campbell Library Youth Poetry Workshops
  4:30pm (on both days)
  This is a series of two poetry composition courses for youth ages 13 to 17. You don’t need to have written before. If you have a piece you’d like to polish up, bring it, and I’ll give you some revision techniques. I’m flexible on the ages. Any young person interested in poetry is welcome to join. Just ask the staff at the front desk where to find the poetry workshop and they’ll let you know where we’re meeting. Email Klara Kim at KKim@sccl.org for more info.
• April 17
  5^th Annual San Jose Museum of Art Poetry Invitational
  7pm
  Entrance fee: $5 (free for Museum members)
  This event brings the worlds of visual art and poetry together through the practice of ekphrasis. Poets perform original works inspired by art on display at the museum. Each poet reads while standing beside his or her chosen art piece. This year, all poems relate to work in the exhibit “Initial Public Offering.” Featured poets include Kimberly Escamilla, Jennifer Swanton Brown, Jason Bayani, Claudia McIsaac, Jasper Haze, Evan Karp, Nils Peterson, Sally Ashton, and myself. You can’t miss the location. Just come in through the front door and “Initial Public Offering” is immediately to your right. Visit the Facebook Event for more info.
• April 24
  San Jose State University’s Legacy of Poetry Day
  12pm
  Every year, SJSU hosts this event, and this they’re holding it in honor of poets Wanda Coleman and Edwin Markham. I am proud to share the stage with Joy Harjo, Al Young and Sally Ashton and Nils Peterson. We will be reading poems from Coleman and Markham in addition to our own works. The event is held out doors at SJSU right in front of the campus entrance to the MLK library. Visit the SJSU Legacy of Poetry page for more info.
• April 24 and 26
  Gilroy Library Poetry Workshops
  5pm (on 4-24) / 2pm (on 4-26)
  This is a series of two poetry composition courses for writers of all ages. You can come to one workshop or both. We will do a lot of in-class writing. Coming on both days will give you the chance to revise your work from the first day and bring it in for another round of feedback and edits. Email Kelly Bennan Young at KYoung@sccl.org for more info.