Riverfront Readings with Aisha Sharif, Melissa Ferrer Civil, Waco Porter

Thursday, November 13th, 7:00 PM
Nerman Museum, Hudson Auditorium
12345 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66210

Riverfront Readings, The Johnson County Community College Student Literary Magazine Mind’s Eye and the Black Student Union co-host a reading featuring Aisha Sharif, Melissa Ferrer Civil, and Waco Porter.

Aisha Sharif is a Cave Canem fellow who earned her MFA at Indiana University, Bloomington, and BA in English at Rhodes College. Her poetry has appeared in Crab Orchard Review, Tidal Basin Review, Callaloo, Calyx, Rattle, and other literary journals. Her poems have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes in 2019 and 2015. Aisha’s first book of poetry, To Keep From Undressing, was published by SparkWheelPress in 2019. Her 2nd book, Black Diamonds, was a finalist for the 2024 HubCity Press BIPOC Series.

Melissa Ferrer Civil (she/they) is a first-gen, Haitian-Cuban, queer poet, organizer, and educator living on Kaw, Otoe, and Osage lands (Kansas City, MO). They are preoccupied with constructing new communication for the manifestation of a home we all hold in our hearts. Melissa’s first chapbook BIRTHING PAINS (Turnsol Editions, 2020, reprinted 2024). Their second chapbook is STENO PAD (Turnsol Editions, 2024). Melissa received a MFA from Randolph College, was a Charlotte Street Studio Resident, Chrysalis Institute Alumni, is the Director of B-REAL (Black Radical Education for Abolition and Liberation) Academy. She is the first Poet Laureate of Kansas City, MO. Melissa is the founder of the abolitionist arts and organizing event series, A Nation In Exile. Website, www.melissaferrerand.com and instagram: @melissaferrerand

Waco Porter: living and writing in KC, I have two books of poetry, Total Eclipse and Bus Stop. I am married with three girls. I am the youngest of four, the only boy: Daddy’s son, mama’s joy. I really like writing poetry; it gives me peace of mind. I like being able to reread something I wrote and get right back in that space. I like being able to hear other people read their poetry, hear their truth or perspective, then feel motivated to write something of my own. Not to be better, just responding to the inspiration of others’ voices.