This workshop is open to Cumberland County youth in the 9th-12th grade age range.

In this workshop the first half will be focused on how to go deeper with your poetry to learn tools to expand your writing skills. Learn what a metaphor map can do for some stellar lines, how to unlock your senses to stay inspired, and how to challenge your writing. The second half will be focused on how to make money from your poetry. Learn the ins and outs of the poetry industry and what you can do right now to start your own brand.

Shane Manier is a Creative Coach, Visual Artist, Tedx Keynote Speaker, Trauma Informed Care Instructor, Poetry Mentor and National Spoken Word Poet based in the Charlotte Metro Region of NC. She is the founder of Guerilla Poets, a nonprofit art collective with branches in the US and UK, and is the founder of The National Poetry Month Summit, an online summit that connects and supports poets across the US. She is the Spoken Word and Arts Teaching Instructor for The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Arts Empowerment Project, Henderson High School, and Playing for Others, as well as the Center for Faith in the Arts permanent Artist in Residence. In 2011 she was the youngest poet to ever be inducted in the Poetry Council of North Carolina, and was honored as a finalist for Poet Laureate of Charlotte NC in 2022. She has been recognized as a National Poet performing with Respect Da Mic Slam Team from 2017-2020. She is the author of three books, Fallen Heroes of the Awful Waffle published through Main Street Rag in 2017, Divine Disturbances published in 2020, and Road Hunger 2021. In 2015 she released her first poetry album, Bootstraps, her second album, Carrier Pigeons in 2019, and third album Shanesaw: The Remainder in 2022.