Upcoming Events
Yessmaa Bio:
Essmaa Litim is a radical storytelling visionary who uses voice as her medium to distribute a wealth of information from both a social and political lens. She is the author of the memoir, Speechless, which centers her family’s journey immigrating to the United States in the 90s and shares the cultural adversity they faced in raising five children in a new world. In addition to her book, Essmaa uses her art of storytelling to bring spoken word to the forefront of her experiences and those of her community, powering the stage with effortless wordplay. She has performed in spaces like SOB’s in NYC, WGBH, and Voices in Power at City Winery. Essmaa is the founder of Femme Flo, a poetic collective curated to cultivate a community of femme poets in celebration of us. In March 2023, Essmaa was awarded the EXTRAordinary Woman award by the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement for her commitment and dedication to her community, neighborhood, and workplace. As a first-generation American, Essmaa continues to work hard to help build the community that helped build her through believing it, speaking it, and being it.
January 26, 2025
The White Room
138 Green Street, Worcester
Join us Sunday, January 19, 2025, for a night of unforgettable music, poetry, and community! We’re kicking off the new year with an incredible headliner: Dan Burke, a soulful and funky sound, shaped by classic R&B and soul legends, will light up the stage and your spirits. His musical journey from Berklee to the groove-infused rhythms of Stevie Wonder, Prince, and D’Angelo guarantees a night built to move you and make you move!
Doors open at 6 PM. Show runs 6–9 PM. Suggested donation $20 to keep supporting our artists and band!
This year, we’re celebrating 3 YEARS of building a space for art, music, poetry, and connection. We couldn’t have done it without YOU—the poets, musicians, and supporters who keep this dream alive. Thank you for believing in the magic of The Poet’s Cauldron and helping us serve Worcester’s vibrant arts community. Here’s to many more years together! Mark your calendars, bring your friends, and let’s make 2025 unforgettable!
Oct 6th
Join us at THE POETS CAULDRON for a night of magic, where words brew and creativity flows freely!
Welcome to THE POETS CAULDRON! We’re back on October 6, 2024! Help us welcome the amazing @genie.santiago to our home.
Genie Santiago (she/they) is a musician, writer, community collaborator, and wellness mentor from Greater Boston. Described as spiritual and sensual, Genie’s art draws from her experiences as a Queer Latina and survivor of sexual abuse. Her mission is to empower others to overcome trauma, decolonize the mind, embrace sexual freedom, and reject society’s harmful ideals.
Genie amplifies the voices of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and marginalized communities through her work. Her 2019 release "Spirit Party" connected the sexual and spiritual realms, while her 2020 single "Revelación" was a powerful cry for racial justice and decolonization. In 2021, Genie released her debut album Inner Space, praised for its poetic, peaceful response to trauma and prejudice.
She has opened for Lupe Fiasco, BIA, and performed alongside Grammy-nominated Son Little. Genie also founded the "Sunflower Series" to showcase Boston-based performers, and she co-owns Creatives of Color Boston, uplifting BIPOC artists in the area.
"We are more than performers. We are artists with stories to share."
July 21st
Join us at THE POETS CAULDRON for a night of magic, where words brew and creativity flows freely!
Welcome to THE POETS CAULDRON! Join us on Sun, Jul 21, 2024 at 6:00 PM in The White Room for an evening of enchanting poetry and spoken word performances. Immerse yourself in a cozy atmosphere filled with creativity and inspiration. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just love to listen, this event is perfect for anyone looking to connect with fellow poetry enthusiasts. Come share your own work or simply enjoy the magic of words. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of THE POETS CAULDRON!
Meet this month's Featured Poet, CLOUD.
Since creating his instagram account in April 2023, the poet Cloud has made quite a respectable and rapid impact on the poetry community by showcasing his art form all across the world. He's a persona storyteller which helps create a special bond/connection with any crowd he's in front of. He aims for every piece to resonate with someone- if not everyone that hears them. Hailing from Newark, New Jersey; his storytelling, clever wordplay, humor and catchy rhyme patterns allow his spoken word poems to stand out amongst some of the best performers. He's been on many big stages like Pure Poetry Live and Bowery Poetry Club to name a couple. He's also featured on many other notary platforms such as Write About Now Poetry, Voices in Power and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe!
May 5th
Join us for a mesmerizing celebration of poetry and culture as we present El Caldero, a special event in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ is a nationally and internationally recognized poet and writer from Colima, Mexico, living in New Mexico. His work centers and touches on cultural identity, race/ethnicity, immigrant narratives, masculinity, memory, and the intersection of them all. He was featured in TIME Magazine as one of 80 Mexican artists shaping contemporary Mexican culture. His work, and personal story, are the subject of a short documentary for the PBS series, American Masters: In The Making, which highlights emerging cultural icons. Representing Mexico, he was runner-up at the 2023 World Poetry Slam Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was the 2021 Mexican National Poetry Slam Champion, he is a two-time National Poetry Slam Semi-Finalist (in the US), multiple time TEDx Speaker/Performer, and Emmy-nominated poet. His debut poetry collection, There Will Be Days, Brown Boy, is forthcoming from MouthFeel Press. He is a middle and high school counselor and finds very little to be worth more than laughing with the students he works with.He is a TIN HOUSE Writers Workshop participant. His work has appeared in The Acentos Review, The Latino Book Review, Yellowscene, As/Us Journal, Rethinking Schools, and other publications. He has also been featured in Radar2021|Telemundo|NBCUniversal and Tracksmith. His self-published book, Moreno. Prieto. Brown. (2017), has sold over 3,000 copies and has been incorporated in curricula across various school districts.
April 21st
Join us at The Poet’s Cauldron for a night of enchanting words, stirring emotions, and magical connections with fellow poetry lovers!
Welcome to The Poet’s Cauldron! Join us at The White Room for a magical evening filled with poetry, spoken word, and creative vibes. This in-person event is a gathering of wordsmiths, dreamers, and lovers of all things lyrical. Get ready to be enchanted by the power of words as poets from all walks of life come together to share their art. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just starting out, everyone is welcome to step up to the mic and share their verse. So bring your creativity, your passion, and your love for poetry, and let's brew some magic in The Poet’s Cauldron!
Information about this month's headliner: TJ Reynolds
Anthony “TJ” Reynolds is a multi-discipline, multi-racial artist, musician and educator originally from Indianapolis, and now living in Arlington, Ma. As a visual artist, Reynolds currently has a solo show hanging at the City Natives Gallery in Indianapolis, work in the Spencer Museum of Art in Kansas and the Arlington Town Hall in Massachusetts.
As a musician and performer, Reynolds has been featured multiple times nationally on NPR, performed spoken word in Slams across the country, won rap battles as well as a Moth Story competition. Reynolds was recently featured in an original freestyle rap performance as part of Entropy Festival at the Boston Performing Arts Center. He was part of the 2023 Lizard Lounge Slam Team.
Reynolds currently teaches elementary visual art for an urban public school.