Running a grassroots initiative without funding, while maintaining consistent growth and quality, has been challenging and rewarding. Being a part of TPC and then taking the lead has taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, especially when working with friends and peers on a passion project.

I've learned that when you're leading people but not dictating, when you have a vision but are cobbling things together with limited resources, you need a special kind of approach. We're not employees nor bosses – we're poets doing this for love, not money. People volunteer their time, resources, skills, and money to make these workshops and events happen.

The reality is, we're all often left gasping on the shores of our days. Between day jobs, social commitments, family worries, life-abroad concerns, health issues, and cash flow challenges, finding capacity to write poetry, let alone facilitate spaces for others to share their work can be difficult. Yet this community continues to show up, contribute, and grow. I believe we need poetry even more now – a shared space to make sense of, reflect on, and alchemize the literal horrors we are watching unfold in real time. We need poetry even more now – to share, explore, create, and support each other's artistic expressions.

Looking back at our achievements – from 3 sold-out readings to our new journal launch and our 4th poetry reading (October 19th! 2024), from our month-long #NAPOWRIMO community to representing TPC at various events around the island – I'm amazed at what we've built together. It's pretty freaking incredible to see how this grassroots initiative has grown exponentially year after year, providing value for both beginner writers and established, published poets.