There’s something magical that happens when a room full of strangers sits in stillness, listening to a poem.
Maybe it’s the vulnerability of the speaker, maybe it’s the way a single sentence can crack open a memory you didn’t know was buried. Maybe it’s the simple truth that stories—when shared out loud—can start to heal things that silence never could.
This October, we’re doing just that.
Poetry With Purpose is happening on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Queen Bean Social House in Modesto, California. It’s more than a night of poetry—it’s a gathering of voices, a spark of community, and a celebration of what happens when creativity meets advocacy.
We’ll have spoken word, haiku battles, open mic moments, and plenty of warmth. But more than that, we’ll have people—survivors, supporters, artists, and allies—all showing up with one shared belief: that healing is possible, and no one should have to go it alone.
Why We’re Doing This
At HAVEN, we serve survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking across Stanislaus County. We walk beside people during the hardest chapters of their lives. And while we offer counseling, shelter, legal support, and education, there’s something art can do that services alone sometimes can’t.
Art invites people to be seen. It lets them reclaim their voice.
Events like Poetry With Purpose give space for expression, resilience, and connection. Whether you're reading your own piece or simply bearing witness, you're participating in something bigger than a performance. You're helping create a community that listens, believes, and responds.
What to Expect
Imagine this: you’re tucked into a cozy seat at Queen Bean on a crisp fall night. You have a drink in hand. Around you, people are snapping fingers instead of clapping. There’s a beat in the air—a rhythm of words, emotions, truths. Someone steps to the mic and begins a piece about survival. Another shares a poem of gratitude. And in between, there’s laughter, applause, and maybe even a few tears.
There will be powerful performers. Some moments will feel like a celebration. Others may feel like we're listening to survival.
This isn’t just poetry for poetry’s sake. This is poetry with purpose.
How You Can Be Part of It
There are a few ways to engage:
Attend and bring a friend. Let yourself be moved.
Sponsor the event if you're a business or individual who wants to champion survivor support.
Step up to the mic if you feel called to share your own story or art.
Your presence—whether in the audience or on stage—makes a difference. It helps fund services, spread awareness, and most importantly, lets survivors know their community sees them.
Join Us
Poetry With Purpose
Friday, October 17, 2025
Queen Bean Social House, Modesto, CA
Spoken word | Haiku battles | Community healing
Online Registration COMING SOON
To learn more or sponsor the event, reach out to Kathleen at krowe-glendon@havenstan.org or call (209) 284-4732.
This is your invitation to show up—not just for the poetry, but for the purpose behind it.
We hope to see you there.