History
For the love of poetry
Thinking of poetry's ancient and modern links to music, dance, and other performing arts, Professor Frank Boyle and a small group of faculty, students, and alumni, with the particular help of Dean Cira Vernazza, sought to make a place for poetry at New York's Center for the Performing Arts by founding Poets Out Loud in 1992 at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus.
Beginning with readings by Gwendolyn Brooks, Kenneth Koch, and Derek Walcott, the Poets Out Loud reading series went on to feature both emerging and highly-renowned poets, including Elizabeth Alexander, Kay Ryan, Yusef Komunyakaa, Kimiko Hahn, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Kathleen Fraser, Willie Perdomo, and numerous others.
With a mission of providing opportunities for the creation, dissemination, and enjoyment of poetry, Poets Out Loud grew from an unfunded, all-volunteer community into a national organization with a full calendar of annual events, including: a reading series each semester, an annual book series (the POL Prizes) in partnership with Fordham University Press, and high school outreach programs.
Directors of the reading series: Frank Boyle, Scott Hightower, Elisabeth Frost, Connie Hassett, Heather Dubrow, and Sarah Gambito.
Poets Out Loud builds on its vibrant history
to launch the Poetic Justice Institute
at Fordham University.
In response to our unprecedented historical moment, Poetic Justice Institute will not only continue to serve the Fordham and NYC communities but will also increase our reach through digital and print technologies to include a national network of poets, scholars, and social justice workers.