For as long as language has existed, humans have celebrated poetry.

Its captivating rhythm has been used to tell epic stories of adventure and courage. Its sound devices and repetition help commit facts and important truths to memory. It expresses emotion in a unique way, whether that be love, sadness, or anger. It gives the marginalized a voice for their experiences, and can even be a catalyst for social change. No wonder poetry exists in almost every known culture, from the temples of Greece to the skyscrapers of New York City, and from Persia to Peru to the Philippines.

But here’s the problem: lately, most people don’t get to read any poetry at all. In the last century, it has stopped being a tool for every culture, every age, and every social class. Instead, most of the poetry published today is written and read by a small group of elite literary scholars. In public K-12 schools, interaction with poetry has been almost completely eliminated. Outside of schools, we see even less of it.

This isn’t how it should be.

Here at AllPoets, we believe that everyone should have the chance to enjoy poetry—from the youngest to the oldest. For that to happen, we need a massive shift in our culture. And the only way for that to happen is with support from people like you.

AllPoets is working to bring poetry back into local communities. This page hosts resources for teachers, parents, and kids who want to get involved! Sign up for a workshop, submit a poem of your own, or just add your name to our weekly newsletter list. Any support helps!

Let’s fight for a future where we can all be poets.