This past April 23, was held under the title A Voice for Peace, Concord, and Harmony. The event took place at PhillyCAM, located at 699 Ranstead Street.
Dr. Norma Corrales-Martin, provided details about this literary celebration that brought together poets from Latin America and the United States.
The participating poets included Roger Santiváñez, Norma Corrales-Martin, Amauri Gutiérrez Coto, Alex Selimov, Yesenia Escobar Espitia, David Acosta, Johann Sarmiento, José Pablo Barragán, Carla Vanessa, and John Lavin. The program featured rounds of poetry readings, musical performances by Caro and Dani, and a gathering with refreshments for the audience.
This event was part of the 19th International Poetry Festival Word in the World, an initiative that promotes more than 2,500 events annually in different countries, with the aim of fostering poetry as a tool for peace and unity among peoples.
Dr. Norma Corrales-Martin, poet, linguist, and cultural promoter, has dedicated her career to the research and promotion of the Spanish language, while also tirelessly supporting the creation of spaces for art and literature in the city of Philadelphia. Corrales-Martin shared how this festival began in an intimate setting eleven years ago, in the living room of her own home, where she invited local poets to share their work in a warm and welcoming environment.
Over time, the interest of major institutions such as the Free Library of Philadelphia and community organizations like Acción Colombia helped the festival grow, consolidating it as one of the city’s most anticipated literary gatherings.
This year, in addition to poetry readings and musical performances, the festival celebrated the launch of previous poetry anthologies and the preparation of a new bilingual collection featuring poems from the 2023 and 2024 editions. The festival’s commitment to inclusion was also highlighted, as several poems were translated and read in English, allowing a broader audience to enjoy the works.
Regarding the importance of poetry today, Dr. Corrales-Martin remarked that in a society that often prioritizes immediacy and pragmatism, poetry offers a unique space to explore feelings, experiences, and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“The poet has a special way of seeing the world,” she stated, encouraging people to write, to overcome their fears, and to find their own poetic voice.
New Initiatives
In this context, the project Poetry Without Borders was also announced, an initiative aiming to publish an anthology featuring 50 unpublished poems by emerging poets (this can be you). This call is not a contest, but an open invitation for those who wish to share their art and contribute to the flourishing of poetry in Philadelphia and around the world.
Corrales-Martin emphasized the relevance of poetry in contemporary society, describing it as a unique means of personal expression and sensitivity toward the world.
At the end of the interview, Dr. Corrales-Martin encouraged those who feel hesitant about poetry to check out the poetry creation workshop she conducted alongside Yesenia Escobar Espitia, available on Acción Colombia’s Facebook page. She also reminded everyone that it is never too late to start writing and expressing oneself through poetry.