WOTS Wordshop: Our Stories Speak - The People’s Poem Workshop

The Word On The Streetchampions reading and writing in Canada primarily through a free festival celebrating storytelling, ideas, and imagination.

The Word On The Street

This interactive, all-ages workshop invites you to write your truth and weave it into a powerful collective piece: The People’s Poem.

Metro Hall

Presented with the City of Toronto.“Our pain is our power. Our beauty is our story.”At The Word on the Street, stories have the power to spark change. Led by Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate, Shahaddah Jack, this interactive, all-ages workshop invites you to write your truth and weave it into a powerful collective piece: The People’s Poem.Through short, high-energy writing prompts, open sharing, and group creativity, participants will transform personal stories into a shared vision for peace, justice, and belonging. Whether you’re a first-time writer, a seasoned poet, or just curious, this is your space to speak up, be heard, and leave your mark on the festival.This workshop is free to attend. However, if you have the means, we invite you to consider a donation to The Word On The Street as a way of helping to keep these arts events accessible for everyone into the future.

<h3>Location</h3>The WOTS Wordshop is located in room 310 of Metro Hall, accessible through the festival site at David Pecaut Square. Take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signage. Advance registration is required. Please aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before the workshop begins, and bring something to write with!

<h3>About the Facilitator</h3>Shahaddah Jack is a 20-year-old bilingual spoken word poet and human rights activist rooted in the vibrant culture of Tkaronto. She draws deep inspiration from her diverse heritage, channeling it into her art to address human rights, the Black experience, and the challenges of adolescence. As <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/youth-poet-laureate/" title="https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/youth-poet-laureate/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Toronto's first Youth Poet Laureate</a>, Shahaddah’s voice has become a powerful force in the city's artistic landscape. A proud graduate of <a href="https://theremixproject.com/" title="https://theremixproject.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Remix Project</a>, she continues to push creative boundaries while amplifying marginalized voices.Shahaddah’s resume is nothing short of impressive, having performed on over 100 stages, including the iconic History stage. Her achievements include being named <a href="https://www.bgccan.com/en/2022-yoy/" title="https://www.bgccan.com/en/2022-yoy/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BGC Canada’s 2022 National Youth of the Year </a>and one of <a href="https://streetsoftoronto.com/more-of-torontos-most-inspirational-women-of-2022/" title="https://streetsoftoronto.com/more-of-torontos-most-inspirational-women-of-2022/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Streets of Toronto’s most inspirational women in 2022</a>. Her journey began at the tender age of 12, with standout performances at venues such as Hot Docs Cinema, TIFF, and the Meridian Arts Centre.Her work has been featured at high-profile events like the Toronto International Festival of Authors, Nuit Blanche, and Word On The Street, while CBC Radio-Canada, City News, CTV, and  Now Toronto have showcased her talents across multiple platforms. Dedicated to giving back, Shahaddah has led workshops on poetry and human rights with organizations such as BGC Canada, <a href="https://vibearts.ca/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwvr--BhB5EiwAd5YbXlVuvG8bKyC4YXt6pvz6lx1hs88Zk6lCbsVN_VlgKha3yoYl_wDWcBoCq9gQAvD_BwE" title="https://vibearts.ca/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwvr--BhB5EiwAd5YbXlVuvG8bKyC4YXt6pvz6lx1hs88Zk6lCbsVN_VlgKha3yoYl_wDWcBoCq9gQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">VIBE Arts</a>, Guelph University, <a href="https://www.jayu.ca/homepage-abouut" title="https://www.jayu.ca/homepage-abouut" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">JAYU</a>, TDSB, and York University. Discover her artistic world through her debut book, *<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Underrated-Royalty-Sous-Estim%C3%A9e-Shahaddah-Jack/dp/1778146813" title="https://www.amazon.ca/Underrated-Royalty-Sous-Estim%C3%A9e-Shahaddah-Jack/dp/1778146813" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Underrated Royalty</a>,* available now on Amazon.

The Word On The Street is an annual celebration of storytelling, ideas and imagination, hosting Canada's largest FREE book and magazine festival annually and promoting great books by Indigenous and Canadian authors year-round.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

WOTS Wordshop: Our Stories Speak - The People’s Poem Workshop

More events from The Word On The Street

Discover more events from The Word On The Street, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Toronto and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

WOTS Wordshop: Our Stories Speak - The People’s Poem Workshop

More events from The Word On The Street

Discover more events from The Word On The Street, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Toronto and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.