Poetry: Parker-Vincent Alva, Crystal Valentine, Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah

Parker-Vincent Alva is a student and writer from Boston, MA. He writes poetry and prose centering on the intersection of desire and identity. A 2023 YAWP Teen Fellow and the 3rd Youth Poet Laureate of Boston, he aims to increase public appreciation of literature and push the boundaries of what's possible. When he's not at his desk, you can find him destroying his kitchen trying to bake.

Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah is a Ghanaian American poet, editor, and educator living out the diaspora in Boston, Massachusetts. They are both Black & alive. Born in 1993, Emmanuel is the school librarian at the Joseph Lee School in Dorchester, and in the past has served as a teaching artist at organizations such as the MassLEAP , the Cambridge Arts Council, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. In his free time, Emmanuel enjoys hot carbs, brightly colored chapbooks, and the long sigh at the end of a good book.

Crystal Valentine is a nationally and internationally acclaimed poet who has traveled across seas performing on platforms in Brazil, Botswana, South Africa and elsewhere. A former New York City Youth Poet Laureate and two-time winner of the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI), Crystal has been offered fellowships from Callaloo, Tin House, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences, The Boston Foundation and Cave Canem. Originally hailing from the Bronx, Crystal now resides in Boston where she serves as the Director of Programming for Mass Poetry and co-host for Just Be(loved): Your Neighborhood Poetry Slam & Open Mic. When she isn’t writing or agonizing over line breaks, you can find her watching anime and dreaming.

We are one of New England’s premier independent bookstores, family-owned and locally run since 1961. We offer an extensive selection of new, used, and bargain books; unique, beautiful gifts; award-winning events series; and specialty foods. Every day, we strive to foster community through the written word, represent a diverse range of voices and histories, and inspire conversations that enrich our lives. Find more at brooklinebooksmith.com!

EVENT ACCESSIBILITY

This event will take place at street level. If possible, the event will be livestreamed to YouTube. ASL interpretation may be provided (based on the availability of interpreters) but must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Seats are limited. Please email us at [email protected] as soon as possible if you require ASL interpretation, guaranteed seating, or other accommodations. We will do our best to serve your needs!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, United States

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