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J. E. Coats

@mrlovingwords

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Author, Artivist, Teaching Artist

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Join The Body of Freedom for the 4th Annual Fall Free Workshops!

The series kicks off with James Coats’ “Writing the Body Free” Poetry Workshop, an expressive session exploring memory, identity, freedom, and liberation through powerful prompts and poetry. Writers of all experience levels are welcome.

All workshops are FREE and open to the public.
Community-based art workshops will take place from October 2026 through December 2027. Artwork created during the Fall workshops will be featured in The Body of Freedom Exhibition, running March 19–May 7, 2027, at the Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties.
Mark your calendar and bring your voice, imagination, and openness to create, connect, and celebrate community through art. Every participant helps shape this shared exhibition together.

Sign up for free art workshops at bit.ly/freedomworkshops @riversidebodyoffreedom @mrlovingwords @rivlibrary @socialjusticeriverside @riversideartsmagnetramonahs @division9gallery

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This Thursday it’s onnnnn. IE Drink N Draw @the_brickwood 8-11pm. 21+

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We got the grant!!!
Huge thanks to the California Arts Council, making 50 years of creative impact! Thank you for selecting us to receive a $12,000 operations grant!

Y'all know how we do it, bridging the creative community across Los Angeles county and beyond with nearly 100 events each year! We feature nearly 300 unique artists a year across our events landscape, and offer our mic to 1000s to express themselves.

It's such an honor for us to be of service.

If you'd like to help our mission, we have a current campaign to help maintain our current technology and programming costs. You would be a big help with a gift of $10. It goes a long way.

Our grant will not be gifted until January, so your teamwork will absolutely help our dreamwork.

Muchos abrazos. Many thanks and yaaaaaay LA Poet Society!
We did it!

#lapoetsociety #grantrecipient #caartscouncil #nonprofit #donate

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Last month I had the pleasure of attending the San Jose Poetry Festival. It was a treat to meet old friends, new friends, and internet friends and be in community. I love hearing new poetry for the first time, but to meet the poet behind the words and story fills my cup even more. Thank you for an excellent event and experience @poetrycentersanjose. I can’t wait until next year!

#poetryfestival #sanjose #poetlaureate #poetrycommunity #bayareapoet

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Thursday we meet again! See you @the_brickwood 8-11pm!

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Last year, I was fortunate to be in a writing group that included Amaris Castillo. She's an incredibly talented writer who's assembled a tender, artfully crafted collection of stories told by the bodegeros in her beloved hometown of Brooklyn. On October 7 at 5 p.m. (PDT), catch her in a virtual gathering as she talks about growing up as the child of bodega owners and how she came to write her book. https://latinxinpublishing.com/events/lxp-fall-2026-happy-hour. #latinousa #Bodegastories

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One more Friday night for the record.
Cherry Blossom Poetry Collective — Volume Four.
Friday, August 28. Inglewood.
YELLAWOMAN herself, Jessica Gallion, is our first-ever guest host.
RAVINA brings YELLOW — from the House of Blues to the United Nations.
James Coats brings the change — San Gabriel Poetry Slam winner, Pushcart nominee.
Doors 7:00. Reading 7:30.
Open mic 8:45 to 11 — one poem, four minutes, your first time counts.
Free. Walk in. All ages welcome.
Fragrance of Elegance · 10925 S. Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 106, Inglewood
Free parking on site.
Brought to you by Fragrance of Elegance, in partnership with Wisdom’s Sisters. Media partner: Poet Runner.
cherryblossompoetry.org
#CherryBlossomPoetryCollective #Inglewood #OpenMic #SpokenWord #LAPoetry

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Hey Inglewood! Honored to be sharing the stage with @_yellawoman & @mrlovingwords this Friday at the Cherry Blossom Poetry Collective’s Mic at @foecandles Pull up 🌸🌸 7:30 pm// 7:00 pm doors open.

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Anger is a Gift Contributors Zoom Reading
is TODAY at :

5 PM Pacific Time
7 PM Central Time
8 PM Eastern Time

We invite you to join our Zoom Reading featuring the Poets reading their resistance poems from FlowerSong Press Anger is a Gift: An Anthology of Resistance and Response Poems to the 2024 Election.

Join us and experience the Revolutionary Poetry Resistance with Anger is a Gift Contributors Zoom Reading TODAY at:
5 PM Pacific Time
7 PM Central Time
8 PM Eastern Time

DM for ZOOM Link

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I facilitated "Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles" for the San José Poetry Festival, a collaboration with La Raíz Magazine. It was great! We wrote 3 poems and two "quick writes." Great work, discussion, and sharing of ideas & experiences.

For more poetry events @poetrycentersanjose
@laraizmagazine

My poetry at www.ejmontelongo.com
@elizabethjimenezmontelongo

#sanjosepoets #historyparkpoetry #poetrysanjosé #writingworkshop #zapatista

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TOMORROW!!!

Anger is a Gift Contributors Zoom Reading
Thursday, August 27 at :
5 PM Pacific Time
7 PM Central Time
8 PM Eastern Time

We invite you to join our Zoom Reading featuring the Poets reading their resistance poems from FlowerSong Press Anger is a Gift: An Anthology of Resistance and Response Poems to the 2024 Election.

Born from the urgency of our times, Anger Is a Gift gathers poets from across the country who transform anger into witness, resistance, healing, and hope. This anthology reminds us that art is not only a reflection of history—it is a force capable of shaping it.

Anger Is a Gift is a collection for readers, educators, students, and anyone who believes words can challenge injustice and build community.

As James Baldwin reminded us, “Artists are here to disturb the peace.” This anthology answers that call.

Join us and experience the Revolutionary Poetry Resistance with Anger is a Gift Contributors Zoom Reading on Thursday, August 27 at:
5 PM Pacific Time
7 PM Central Time
8 PM Eastern Time

DM for ZOOM Link

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La Raíz Magazine was at the Small Press Fair! Part of the San José Poetry Festival. Three contributor's poems were featured by the Editor @elizabethjimenezmontelongo , poems by: Melía Elena Garza @writermeliaelena , Ashley Nicole Díaz @pedazodluna , and El Henry Madrid @elhenryart

Poets read their poem from La Raíz (2026): James Coats @mrlovingwords & Lawrence Kelly @l.k.wrote_that , Scótt Russell Dúncan @scottrussellduncanfernandez read from his book ; and Scorpiana Xelent @hair_by_lynn_brooks was a feature in the Slam Poet event!

Follow poets and @laraizmagazine and of course follow Poetry Center San José for more events ans next year's festival! @poetrycentersanjose

#poetrysanjose #sanjosepoetrtfestival #markamhouse #historyparksanjose #poetrycentersanjose

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