Name: The City Speaks: A D.C. Native Poetry Set
Start: 2026-05-19T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-19T20:30:00-04:00
Location: The Strand DC

The City Speaks: A D.C. Native Poetry Set

In a city often spoken to — or at! — join acclaimed D.C. poets as they speak for themselves. Hosted by The 51st and Black.Native.Creative.
About this Event

D.C. has always been a city that speaks in rhythm — through its traditions, its history, its resistance, and its people. But lately, outside voices are increasingly speaking on behalf of those who call it home.

The City Speaks is a closed-mic poetry set that reclaims and reimagines D.C. stories, featuring three acclaimed D.C. native poets: Phyl “2chillphyl” Collier, Malachi “MalPractice” Byrd, and Rasheed Copeland.

Presented by The 51st and Black.Native.Creative. and hosted by Dwayne Lawson-Brown, this event is for anyone looking for community, connection, and conversations about the city — whether you’re a D.C. native, transplant, or somewhere in between.

FEATURED POETS:

Phyl “2chillphyl” Collier is a divinely destined alchemist who transforms pain into power through spoken word, authorship, mentorship, and activism. An award-winning spoken word artist, she was ranked #8 Woman Poet in the World in 2023 and named 2024 DMV Renaissance Awards Best Female Poet. She is also the current Spoken Word to Go-Go Champion. Phyl’s work is rooted in the belief that words are tools for healing, inspiration, and change.

Malachi “MalPractice” Byrd is the inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of Washington, D.C. (2016), and educator, and Princeton University graduate. He is an award-winning poet, Slam Champion, and nationally recognized teaching artist who has worked in over 100 schools across the D.C. area. His poetry bridges education, activism, and performance, driven by a belief in building systems that center equity and opportunity.

Rasheed Copeland is an internationally recognized spoken word artist and author of Mud Jubilee and The Book of Silence: Manhood as a Pseudoscience. A recipient of multiple DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellowships, he placed second in the world at the 2015 Individual World Poetry Slam. His work has been featured in Poets.org, Split This Rock, and beyond.

Tickets are FREE, but limited. RSVP today!