Building on the accomplishments highlighted in February and March, we’re excited to amplify the creatives who effortlessly connect thought and feelings to produce the words many of us understand on an ethereal level – poets.

From our first-ever Torch Feature in Torch Magazine to our most recent Torch Feature and poet, Elisha Mykelti, we want to thank each and every Black woman poet who is part of our thriving literary community. Your poetry is ignited with historical takes, generational proverbs, and collective snaps and praises. 

April is also very special for Torch because it is also International Black Women’s History Month. Created by Sha Battle in 2016, International Black Women’s History month exists to build awareness of the contributions of Black women around the world. 

At Torch, we’re making history as the first-ever literary organization to win AWP’s Literary Organization award, by collaborating to host a historical intergenerational series with the Wintergreen Women Writers Collective called Welcome Table Talks, and existing as an organization led by Texas’s first Black woman Poet Laureate, Amanda Johnston. 

We have so many reasons to celebrate this month! Torch will host lots of fun activities to help encourage writing and be in community with other poets. Check out how you can celebrate with Torch during National Poetry Month below!

Events 

• April 7th - Writing Circle

• April 17th - Give Praise: A Celebration of Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston

• April 18th - National Poetry Month Open Mic at Fanm Djanm 

• April 19th - Songwriting Workshop: Vision in Song with Megan “Megz Kelli” Tillman 

  
  

Torch Magazine 

• Read our April 2025 Feature, Tanya Shirley

• Read poetry by our Friday Features

  
  

Watch on YouTube

• Torch’s Solar Saturday Showcase featuring Marzetta and Shasparay Irvin

• Torch Feature Anastacia-Renee at the Texas Book Festival Lit Crawl 

• A Poem for Sandra Brown by Lynn Thompson during the Texas Book Festival

  
  

You can also support Torch’s mission to amplify Black women writers and the poets we feature by donating to our organization.