On Oct. 19, Cardozo’s Gateway Program traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to attend the Dodge Poetry Festival, meet talented poets, and learn about poetry.
The Dodge Poetry Festival is a new collaboration that celebrates poetry as a catalyst for communities to advance social change. In addition, the 2024 festival marks the 20th anniversary of Dodge Poetry. The festival has reached over 150,000 people, including 45,000 high school students across the east coast.
The Dodge Poetry Festival was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, starting at 9:30 a.m., students and visitors could walk around the different areas of the festival and explore the different ranges of poetry. Some could listen to a rendition of “My Life as a Poet” or even “Writing Our Story.” There was a wide variety of events to attend throughout the day, as well.
The students and other attendees were able to listen to various poetry pieces and analyze the different techniques used in each poet’s writing. The spectators were also able to ask questions after the poems were finished. Some spectators asked about poetry advice, while others questioned their path on becoming a poet. Overall, the crowd enjoyed the talks with laughs and applause.
Take a look at some of the highlights throughout the day below.
