Awards

18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards—Finalist in “Performing Arts”

2024 International Book Awards — Winner in “Poetry Anthology”; Finalist in “Performing Arts” and “Social Change”

Praise for the Book

“This anthology is not just a book; it's an exclusive and invaluable collector's item, a treasure for fans of spoken word and social justice…Each page will inspire and empower you to affect the world positively.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Bold! Unflinching activism poetry. Resonant call to action! A heroic first collection.”
—Publishers Weekly's BookLife

“A rousing triptych of poetry as a weapon against apathy, ignorance, and inaction.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“This powerful and nuanced collection of performative verse exemplifies Poetic People Power’s impactful use of literary forms to advance social change. The skilled craftsmanship and emotional heft of these works serve as potent reminders of spoken word’s transformative potential.”
—Daniel Gallant, former executive director at the Nuyorican Poets Café, founder of Litocrat, arts consultant

“This book is a revolution unto itself, a 20-year testament to unwavering dedication to poetry and activism, to looking at hard truths and demanding change. Every poem is a gem, and strung together in thematic shows, the poems become prisms through which we get to see different sides of an issue. Poetic People Power deserves high praises for this remarkable achievement.”
—Chantal Bilodeau, playwright, founding artistic director of Arts & Climate Initiative

“Poets have long used their words for resistance and as mouthpieces for social justice or political movements—José Marti, Julia de Burgos, Pablo Neruda, Gary Snyder, Walt Whitman, Audre Lorde come to mind. The poets in this book are heirs to this tradition—making known those who are unknown, using art to guide our understanding of what could be, and entrusting us with a call to action.”
—Elena Martínez, folklorist at City Lore, co-artistic director at Bronx Music Heritage Center

“Poetic People Power is a triumph! A testament to how poetry can anchor a calling, a movement. This anthology demonstrates the power of collective voices, how coupling poetry and performance can be in service of something larger than ourselves.”
—Deonna Kelli Sayed, writer & performer, chapter leader for PEN America North Carolina Piedmont Region

“Tara Bracco’s Poetic People Power awakened me to see poets as our true visionary thinkers. Maybe they’re not well-known or major influencers, but they are paving the way to create a better world…caring, healing, and problem solving with their stories and poetry. This book inspires me to deeply affirm that goodness will ultimately prevail.”
—Meredith Porte, media producer, board member at The Peace Studio

“Poetic is difficult to decipher. People are impossible to understand. Power is at the detriment of us all. Poetic People Power, a hybrid theater/literary anthology, is an honest attempt to make sense of why we have so little sympathy for one another. To quote the eloquent poet Amiri Baraka, ‘Politics is the gaining & maintaining of Power.’ But at what cost? This collection of imagery, metaphor and commitment to peace is a must read for thinking people. It reassures possibilities are endless.”
—reg e gaines, poet & Tony Award-nominated playwright, artistic director of Downtown Urban Arts Festival

“Honoring a longstanding, ever growing, powerful tradition of ‘speaking truth to power’ and telling what must be shared, this work embodies the courage and beauty of poetry, spoken word, story committed and accountable to community, to justice, to change. Exciting, and painful as social truths are, and necessary, Tara Bracco’s Poetic Power People and the marvelous writers/performers build an irresistible, layered collective call, invitation, insistence to be heard, really heard. And to hear means to be moved to act. Brava to this breathing, singing poetic ensemble reminding us that art is always about connection. And responsibility. That’s part of the joy.”
—Kathy Engel, poet & cultural worker, author of The Lost Brother Alphabet and Dear Inheritors, associate arts professor at NYU’s Department of Art & Public Policy