October’s Collective News: The Confluence and Poetry Saves Lives
Hello, poets and friends! Welcome to October’s Collective News. September brought new books, readings, and poems to our community. Now we’re getting ready to celebrate The Confluence and gather for three days of Poetry Saves Lives. There’s also a new deadline for “Hello, Future,” and more chances to bring your work to a critique group. Here’s what’s been happening and what’s ahead.
Looking back: September’s books and readings
Our September 10 Second Thursday gathering at Fountain Street Church celebrated Lamont Arrington’s The My Heart Blues: Love and Blues Poems and GF Korreck’s The Pope’s Astronomer, alongside a community open mic.
If you missed the featured readings, or would like to hear them again, the recordings are on our YouTube channel:
Lamont Arrington reads from The My Heart Blues at Fountain Street Church, September 10, 2026.
GF Korreck reads from The Pope’s Astronomer at Fountain Street Church, September 10, 2026.
You can also read six poems by Lamont and GF in The River’s September Feature. Thank you to both poets, everyone who shared at the open mic, and Fountain Street Church for making room for these voices.
The past month’s calendar also included the September 16 critique group at Schuler Books and the October 3 group at the Grand Rapids Public Main Library. Thank you to Soliloquey and Dailynn Dietz for guiding these ongoing conversations, and to both venues for welcoming poets.
New reading in The River
Two new September poems in The Current are ready to read and share:
“The River in September” by Martin Lane.
“Firefighting a Phoenix” by Neil Kaufman.
Thank you, Martin and Neil, for sharing your work with our readers.
The October Feature is also live, with 20 poems by 20 contributors to The Confluence. Spend some time with these voices before the launch, or return to them afterward. The online selection is another way to meet the poets gathered in the anthology.
October 8:
Meet the poets of
The Confluence
The Confluence anthology launch and open mic, October 8 at Fountain Street Church.
Our next Second Thursday gathering celebrates The Confluence: An Anthology of Grand Rapids Poets, which brings together 208 poems by 76 writers connected to the Grand Rapids poetry community.
Join us on Thursday, October 8, in The Chapel at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the anthology open mic runs from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The evening is devoted to readings from the anthology—a chance to hear the poems aloud and meet the people who wrote them.
Preorder your copy for $15, with shipping when books arrive or free pickup at the launch. See the launch details.
Thank you to all 76 contributors and everyone helping bring this book into readers’ hands.
Poetry Saves Lives in the news
On October 6, Common Ground published Ashley King’s feature about Poetry Saves Lives, with festival co-organizers Neil Kaufman and Christine Stephens-Krieger. The story introduces the festival’s mix of poetry, conversation, art, movement, and music, and its invitation to participate at your own pace.
Thank you to Ashley and Common Ground for helping more people find their way to the festival. Read the story and pass it along to a friend who might like to join us.
October 15–17:
Come to
Poetry Saves Lives
The festival takes place at 106 Gallery, 106 Division South, Grand Rapids. Every festival event is free and open to the public. Come for one session or several; there are opportunities to write, read, listen, move, and spend time with the poetry community.
Thursday, October 15
5:00–6:30 p.m. — Crock Pot-Luck Poetry potluck. Bring a dish to share.
6:30–9:00 p.m. — Open mic hosted by Carolyn Ferrari.
Friday, October 16
3:00–5:00 p.m. — Write in response to art at the ekphrastic poetry workshop and open mic with Hannah Notess.
6:00–8:00 p.m. — Neil Kaufman hosts an open mic and conversation around “How Has Poetry Saved Your Life?”
Saturday, October 17
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. — Youth/all-ages poetry workshop and open mic with Meg Johnson and Shayna “Akanke” Marie.
1:30–3:30 p.m. — A panel discussion about poetry and mental health.
4:00–5:30 p.m. — A dance workshop with Dr. Kimmy Copeland of Tanztheater Michigan, welcoming all ages and abilities.
6:00–8:00 p.m. — The Grand Finale Celebration, hosted by Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Christine Stephens-Krieger, with community dance and an open mic accompanied by jazz ensemble Art Sauce.
Explore the full festival schedule and choose the sessions you’d like to attend.
Our thanks to the workshop leaders, hosts, performers, volunteers, and 106 Gallery, and to supporters Dwelling Place, Avenue for the Arts, Hendrik Meijer, and John Hunting.
“Hello, Future”:
Submit by November 1
There’s more time to send a poem to Grand Rapids in 2076. The “Hello, Future” deadline has been extended to November 1, 2026, from the October 1 date in last month’s newsletter.
Anyone who considers their poetry connected to Grand Rapids may participate, with no age restrictions. Submit one original poem, no longer than one page. Previously published work is welcome; include its publication information.
Eligible submissions will appear in The River, and fifty selected poems will be sealed in a time capsule at the Grand Rapids Public Museum until 2076. Read the call and share your poem.
Looking a little further ahead, save the date for the project’s public reading and presentation: Thursday, December 10, 5:30–7:30 p.m., in the Chapel at Fountain Street Church. The event is free and open to the public.
Bring a poem
to the next critique group
Wednesday, October 21, 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Join Soliloquey at Schuler Books, 2660 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, for feedback and conversation. October meeting details.
Saturday, November 7, 3:00–5:00 p.m. — Join Dailynn Dietz on the fourth floor of the Grand Rapids Public Main Library, 111 Library Street NE. Poets of all levels are welcome. November meeting details.
Whether you bring a poem, a dish to share, or simply your attention, we hope to see you in the coming weeks. Follow our events calendar for the latest details, and keep reading and sharing The River.
