LA Poet Society is a literary organization dedicated to the community, to make the literary arts inclusive, accessible, and visibile!
A non-profit literary community organization serving Los Angeles county & beyond
EIN: 93-1834479
All donations are tax deductible.
Sponsors
Where Poetry Lives
since 2009
Your Team - The Los Angeles Poet Society
Our goal is to keep you informed and tell you what's going on around town in the Literary Arts. It takes a village to help bridge LA. Here are our Villagers.
Jessica M. Wilson
Executive Director, Founder
Jessica M. Wilson is a Chicana Poet from East Los Angeles, CA. She has an MFA in Writing from Otis College of Art and Design and a BA in Creative Writing and Art History from the University of California, Riverside. She is the Mother of the Sun and the Moon.
She began the Los Angeles Poet Society as an answer to bring the LA literary 'scene' into light -- so there would be transparency between Poets and Poetry Venues, Publishers, Musicians and Artists and all creatives.
To bring the community together, she began the Literary Series: Writers' Row, Writer Wednesday, SoapBox Poets Open Mic, Tonalli Thursday, and the Salon @ NoHo.
Jessica teaches for UCLA Writers' Program and is a Poet Teacher with California Poets in the Schools. She is 100 Thousand Poets for Change Artivist and Curator, and part of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade in Los Angeles!
Jessica is the author of Serious Longing, a collection of poems published by Swan World Press, Paris, France.
She is a Beat Poet and dedicates her words to the freedom of Mohammad ibn Al Ajami and other humans being repressed and denied the right to speak their truth.
Juan Cardenas
Associate Director
Juan Cardenas is a Flutist, Vocalist, Poet, Activist, and Educator to the bilingual community, specializing in teaching poetry and music to the youth. He is an award-winning Author of The Beat of an Immigrant Chicano, which received an Honorable Mention for the Juan Felipe Herrera Prize for a book of poetry in English from the International Latino Book Awards. He is published by Swan World Press in Paris, France. He is a Poet Teacher with California Poets in the Schools working with native Spanish speakers and youth of diverse cultural backgrounds.
"Literature and creative expression were the gateway to discovering who I was, it made the everyday living simpler to understand, and school a lot easier to handle; not to mention motivating. I am able to see how poetry impacted my life at a young age in a positive way. I am now aware of the different directions my life could have gone as I see today’s youth. As an immigrant growing in a Latino community, I first-handedly felt the lack of literary outlets in the community. Unfortunately, I still feel its presence in North Hollywood. I would like to be the bridge to the community to literal creative arts." ~ Juan Cardenas
Juan is part of 100 Thousand Poets and Musicians for Change, and the Revolutionary Poets Brigade - Los Angeles.
Jeffrey Bryant
Website Sponsor
Jeffrey Bryant is a Writer living in LA, published in LA Weekly, LA Times, Poetic Diversity, Coiled Serpent.
Norman Molesko
Senior Advocacy Partner
Norman Molesko is a pioneer in promoting and conveying Senior Advocacy. How so? Because he covers many aspects of Senior Advocacy through the means of poetry, Senior life, Senior experiences, Senior concerns and Senior issues, in his workshop of words, gestures and communications.
He is a storyteller - poet - entertainer – since the year 1999 and focuses on the mind, body, spirit and soul.
Cheyenne Robbins
LA Poet Society Volunteer Coordinator
Cheyenne Robbins is a Chicana creative born and raised in the 818. She is a licensed therapist and union chapter chair helping empower families to stop the stigma on mental health. Coping through creativity and poetry has helped her overcome and connect with the world.
Candice Margarita
Poetry on Demand; Typewriter Poet
Candice Margarita is a queer Nuyorican, Boricua (New-yo-ree-can, Bor-ri-quah) spoken word poet, writer and multi-hyphenate performer and artist. She is working on publishing her first poetry and prose book, The Antidote, to be released late Spring and produces themed poetry shows in dispensaries in West Hollywood and the Valley.
Katherine Preza Leonor
LA Poet Society Press Editor
Katherine Preza Leonor s a multilingual author and musician from Panorama City, California. She writes poetry, essays, and short stories in the genres of Anthropological Science, Non-fiction, Comedy, Drama, and Religion. She is a student at UCLA, set to graduate Spring 2027, with a BA in English and a minor in Creative Writing. She is an advocate for Immigration Rights, Women’s Rights, and Environmental Justice. Her debut book 'Russeting Fruits' was published by Daxson Publishing.
Mariana Franco
Heartbeats Circle Open MIc Curator/ Host
Mariana Franco aka Nopal Flower (She/They) Miss. Franco can always be found taking photographs & provides editing services for other writers, promoting events through her business Prickly Pear Productions & Services. Her most recent series which she took on tour have been Las hijas Chingonx de Inmigrantes in the cities of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Humboldt County (showcasing poets from those cities and the surrounding towns), book reviews on IG live, You are not a Crappy Writer Workshop (virtual and in-person) & Poets with Palestine (December 2023 & January 2024). She lives in the Heart of East Los Angeles.
Sebastian Camarena
LA Poet Society Press
Coordinator
Sebastian Camarena is a first generation Chicanx writer and musician. Sebastian graduated from California State University of Los Angeles with a Ba in English. Sebastian has been published in CSULA’s Statement Magazine, and won the honorable mention for the 2022 University & College Poetry Prize sponsored by the Academy of American Poets.
Jennifer "Miss B"
Baptiste
Event Curator
Voices of Color
Jennifer "Miss B" Baptiste is a writer, actor, librarian, event host and illustrator. She creates lyrical introspective pieces to promote healing, mindfulness, and curiosity. Miss B's art and poetry has been published in various anthologies, zines and literary journals. Browse her illustrations and zines at jenniferbaptiste.com or @WheresMsB on social media!
Karin DaSilva
Blog Writer
Media Editor
Karina DaSilva is a writer of Salvadoran and Brazilian descent, currently living in Los Angeles. She graduated from California Lutheran University with a BA in English Literature and in Communications. When not writing poetry, she enjoys creating ink illustrations and celebrating Halloween at least four times a year. She has previously had poetry featured in print and online publications, including plain china and Dead Peasant, and is a recipient of the Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize.
LA Poet Society's Board of Directors
