Bicultural Poetry Program
The Bicultural Poetry Program (BPP) is a community-powered initiative by No Divide KC that fosters cultural exchange and supports emerging bilingual poets across Missouri. Through immersive workshops, collaborative events, and creative publishing opportunities, BPP empowers participants to express their identities, celebrate multilingual voices, and explore poetry as a tool for healing, advocacy, and connection.
Our program bridges the arts with education and mental wellness, using poetry to create space for reflection, dialogue, and transformation—both individually and collectively.
Our Offerings
Pop-Up Workshop
Single, holistic workshops on cultural awareness and bilingual expression. Perfect for community centers, libraries, and grassroots orgs.
Duration: 1.5 hours (1 session)
Participants: 10–15 people
LatinX Verse Workshops
Creative writing workshops integrated into Spanish, ELL, and English curricula in local high schools.
Audience: Freshman–Junior students
Duration: 1.5 hours (2–4 sessions)
Participants: 20–45 students
Bonus: UMKC students apply for paid internships to support these sessions.
Non-Profit Partnership Workshops
Monthly sessions tailored to the communities your organization serves, focusing on cultural identity, healing, and storytelling through poetry.
Duration: 1.5 hours (3–4 sessions/month)
Participants: 5–15 people
Led by: Local bilingual poets and BPP facilitators
“Our Identidad” Annual Anthology
A published bilingual collection showcasing the writing, stories, and photos from our program participants and events.
All contributors receive a physical copy, and we celebrate the release with a public showcase where local and student poets read their work.
Community Engagement
KC Code Switchers
A vibrant monthly gathering celebrating BIPOC poets and multilingual expression.
When: First Thursday of every month
Time: 5:30–7:00 PM
Where: Rotating cultural and community spaces in Kansas City
Each session includes a featured poet, guided dialogue, and open mic slots.
Click on image to register
Summer Intensive (Aug 22–23, 2025)
A two-day creative bootcamp with back-to-back workshops led by acclaimed poets.
Each day includes:
2 workshops (1.5 hrs each)
Networking & Q+A with facilitators
Guided exercises in bilingual poetry & identity
SIGN UPS START MAY 1ST
Why This Matters
Poetry becomes a mirror, a map, and a microphone in our program.
We’ve learned through experience that short sessions limit reflection, connection, and cultural exploration—especially for participants navigating bilingualism, immigration, or trauma. Our 1.5 hour format is intentional, giving space for storytelling to unfold fully, group discussion to deepen, and healing to begin.
Ready to connect?
Are you a teacher or community leader?
We’d love to bring the Bicultural Poetry Program to your space! Our core offerings are free of charge, thanks to our commitment to accessibility and community-building.
Are you a poet or artist?
We’re always looking for passionate collaborators who align with our mission. Let’s create something powerful together.
Want to attend an event?
Join us at a workshop or reading! Check out our current programming or follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Important Note:
All of our core programming is offered at no cost, we’ve carefully designed each session to be impactful, inclusive, and accessible. Our model has been developed over several years to best serve diverse communities and ensure high-quality experiences for everyone involved.
We understand that some spaces may have unique needs. In those rare instances—such as requiring modifications of sessions length or long distance travel—a small accommodation fee may apply. We’re always happy to discuss those details openly and collaboratively.
We encourage partners to select one of our carefully crafted offerings, which we’ve fine-tuned to be both engaging and sustainable.
Questions or partnership ideas?
Reach out to Program founder and director, Waleska Rodríguez at waleska@nodividekc.org —we’re happy to talk through any details non specified in this page.