Announcing the 2019 DC Poet Project Finalists

Come to the culminating event May 11th to hear them read, and to help select the winner.

The 2019 DC Poet Project Finalists are: Kevin Wiggins, Antwone Ross, Kim B. Miller, Jola Lawal, and Quanasia McKoy!!

The finalists were selected by featuring poets in the spring readings series: E. Ethelbert Miller, Venus Thrash, Regie Cabico, C. Thomas, Jeffery Banks, John Johnson, Naomi Ayala, Monica Leak, and Shaquetta Nelson.

Join us May 11 1-3pm to hear each finalist read their poetry, and then vote to select the series winner. In the final event the audience selects the winner, to receive a book contract including $1000 cash prize.

This event is likely to sell out: reserve tickets here.

To preview the final event check out videos of the finalist poets on Facebook.

The 2019 Finalists:

Kevin Wiggins was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and performs as The Mysfit – a spoken word artist, performer, storyteller and playwright. His work stares adversity in the face, and is unapologetic for the Black LGBTQ Community with intensity, rage, compassion and love.

Antwone Ross has been writing and performing since he was a child. A native Washingtonian, he participated in the 2018 “Art All Night” festival, and is the founder of “Pop Up Poetry” where he and other local poets perform at random locations in the city.

Kim B. Miller is the author of the spoken-word books, Christ Gave Me This Pen So I Have to Write the Truth and Poetically Inking: Just Me, My Pen and the Mic and a parenting book (on parent/family alienation) called, How To Love Your Kids More Than You Hate That Man. Kim has worked with DC Scores mentoring elementary, middle, and high school students writing and performing poetry.

Omolara-Jolaoluwa ‘Jola’ Lawal was born in Houston, Texas, the last born and only girl of five children. Jola graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio where joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, received her master’s in Education from The Johns Hopkins University in 2018, and teaches at Eagle Academy Public Charter School in Southeast Washington, D.C.

Quanasia McKoy was born in the District of Columbia, attended grade school in the Carolinas, and returned to the area to become certified as a massage therapist. She regularly performs alongside other local artists at open mics in the DMV area, and is event coordinator and host of the open mic at a vegan cafe and juice bar on H Street.

Space is limited. Reserve your tickets for the final event here. Read about 2018 DC Project winner John Johnson here. Read about 2017 DC Poet Project winner Susan Meehan on NPR here.

UPDATE 5/4/2019: due to circumstances beyond her control finalist Kim B. Miller is unable to attend the culminating event, the winner will be selected from among the competing finalists.