2025 DC Poet Project – Singing Words – Washington, DC

This is the third event in Day Eight’s 2025 DC Poet Project series. Each event includes about thirty minutes of poetry by the featured poets, and equal time for reading by open mic participants, for the opportunity to win a $250 open mic prize, judged by the featured poets.

Anyone can perform in the open mic; Only DC residents are eligible to win the cash prize.

The DC Poet Project is a poetry reading series and open-to-all poetry competition culminating in publication of a new book of poetry by a DC author. Each event includes reading by featured poets and an open mic. And at each series event the featured poets select one open mic participant the winner, awarding a $250 cash prize and invite to compete in the culminating event to win a $1,000 book contract.

The 2025 DC Poet Project series is curated by Regie Cabico, and hosted by Aaron Holmes, and is produced by Day Eight through the support of individual donors and support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

ABOUT THE FEATURED POETS

Brandon Douglas is the 2023 winner of the DC Poet Project, and the author of the book, Dipped in Cerulean. Brandon Douglas is a professional poet and arts educator who has worked in schools, detention centers, and community centers. As a youth in DC he was a participant in one of DC’s youth slam teams. Douglas began writing raps in middle school and later melded poetry and hip hop into spoken word compositions. Father of two young girls, he is committed to the District of Columbia, and the power of community.

Patience Rowe is a creator, actress, vocalist, certified Reiki practitioner and writer native to Washington, D.C; a creative with a passion for the spoken word and sound healing. Patience is a heavy praying woman who has been dreaming for years; poet, vocalist, and creative writer. She has performed on stages alongside tenured artists and activists, such as Angela Davis, Nikki Giovanni, Haki Madhabuti, C.C Carter and Avery R. Young. patience finds most of her inspiration in community artists. If you listen closely you may find her heart between your ears.

Dwayne Lawson-Brown, aka the Crochet Kingpin, is an editor of the Mid-Atlantic Review and co-host of Spit Dat, the longest running open mic in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., they have performed and hosted at The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theater, Keegan Theater, The Strathmore, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and others. In addition to varying poetic accomplishments, Dwayne is a Helen Hayes nominated playwright, competitive karaoke champion, and CEO of Crochet Kingpin Designs. He is co-author with Rebecca Bishophall of the book, Breaking the Blank, published by Day Eight in 2023.

THE CULMINATING EVENT OF THE 2025 DC POET PROJECT: SUNDAY MAY 4, 2025

​​The 2025 Poet Project series will culminate in person at a special reading Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 pm, including the open mic winners as selected at the five prior events. At the conclusion of the event attendees will vote to select one poet to receive a $1,000 book contract.

PAST WINNERS OF THE DC POET PROJECT

2024 DC Poet Project winner Amuchechukwu Nwafor, author of Salt Water Roots

2023 DC Poet Project winner Brandon Douglas, author of Dipped in Cerulean

2022 DC Poet Project winner Dominic McDonald, author of I’d Rather Be Called a Nerd

2021 DC Poet Project winner Jenn Koiter, author of So Much of Everything

2019 DC Poet Project winner Kevin Wiggins, author of Port of Exit

2018 DC Poet Project winner John Johnson, author of Love for Her

2017 DC Poet Project winner Susan Meehan, author of Talking to the Night