Session & Speaker Details

SESSION & SPEAKER DETAILS

Panel A: The World of Publishing

May 16th 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Baltimore Unity Hall (Open to All)

A conversation with poets from diverse backgrounds who will share their secrets to successfully making money with poetry and proving you don’t have to be a starving artist. Come listen, ask questions and be engaged as the panelists explore the pitfalls and successes of navigating the business of poetry.

Moderator: Lady Brion
Panelists: Hannah Sawyerr, Rafael Alvarez, Sarah Berger, Destinii Williams

Hannah V. Sawyerr was recognized as the Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore in 2016. Her sophomore novel in verse Truth Is was a finalist for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and the 2026 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her debut novel in verse All the Fighting Parts was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award and was named a Walter Dean Myers Award Honoree. Her spoken word has been featured on the BBC’s World Have Your Say program as well as the National Education Association’s “Do You Hear Us?” campaign. Her written word has been included in Essence, xoNecole, and gal-dem.