Mission Statement:
We believe diversity in all its forms is important and worthy of respect. This resource was born out of a desire to highlight and celebrate diversity, especially with regard to poetry and verse novels for young people. We have begun with a focus on BIPOC diversity, and while we plan to always keep this at the forefront, we hope to also expand our embrace to include other aspects of diversity.
Our goals are to:
provide resources for teachers, librarians and readers (e.g. lesson plan suggestions, educational activity sparks, books lists, interviews with poets and poetry-related articles written by guest bloggers)
build, grow and sustain a supportive community of poetry writers, readers and educators (such as teachers and librarians who love poetry) that provides a safe and positive space to sustain and nurture diverse verse (including outreach to and support for diverse poets at every stage of their lives and careers)
promote sensitivity, spark deep discussions, and ignite positive and practical actions to engender compassion and empathy in the world at large
We are committed to creating a welcoming environment and an inclusive community that is free from harassment, intimidation and bullying. Harassment based upon an individual's sex, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion or any other legally protected characteristics will not be tolerated. Members of this volunteer collective and our allies (including the founder and all team personnel) are expected to abide by this policy.
As we move forward, we hope to grow in an atmosphere of positivity and sensitivity and receptivity. Views that are expressed in blog posts are personal statements by the author of the blog post and not necessarily a shared opinion; nor do they presume to reflect the views of those who have given us their blessings as we begin this journey and continue to grow as a community and build this resource. We greatly respect and honor those who strove for diversity before us, and appreciate their wisdom and contributions, and will try to do our best to act in a manner worthy of their guidance and support.
The Diverse Verse initiative grew out of the seed of an idea that came to Padma Venkatraman. If you would like to be featured in an interview, have your book (of poetry or a verse novel for young people) reviewed on this website, or have an idea for a guest blog post you would like to write or wish to assist with this effort in any other way, please contact Padma Venkatraman via her website, twitter (@padmatv) or ig/fb (venkatraman.padma).
We are delighted to announce that the Highlights Foundation has offered to partner with us to provide a scholarship for one diverse writer to attend a virtual verse novel writer workshop this fall, for which the keynote speaker is Nikki Grimes. For more information on this opportunity, stay in touch!
We are also gratefully looking forward to working with our first intern, Avalon Felice Lee, this summer. If you are interested in working as an intern, please reach out to Dr. Venkatraman.
This website is currently maintained by Anindita Basu Sempere, Lisa Stringfellow, Ari Tison and Padma Venkatraman.
Founding and current members of the Diverse Verse team include Ruth Behar, Valerie Bolling, Margarita Engle, Mariahadessa Ekere, Chrystal Giles, Nadine Pinede, Morgan Jackson, Reem Faruqui, Leslea Newman, Edna Cabcabin Moran, K. A. Holt, Aida Salazar, Rene Saldana Jr., Ray Anthony Sheppard, Anindita Basu Sempere, Lisa Stringfellow, Suma Subramaniam, Ari Tison, Padma Venkatraman, Saranyan Vigraham and Janet Wong.
In addition, the team is grateful for blessings from poets Jacqueline Woodson, Carole Boston Weatherford, Linda Sue Park, Nikki Grimes, and Joseph Bruchac. We hope to remain in contact with them and other acclaimed and respected poets on an annual basis, to keep them informed of this initiative as it grows, and to build something that is worthy of their support.
We are also thankful to so many advocates of diversity, librarians, teachers and other educators, and members of the kidlit community for their positive feedback as we begin this journey, including Cynthia Leitich Smith, Ellen Oh, Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich, Stacey Lee, Traci Sorell, Floyd Cooper, Mitali Perkins, Uma Krishnaswami, Tracey Baptiste, Miranda Paul, Sylvia Vardell, Lisa Krok, Sarah J Donovan, Alaina Lavoie, Pernille Ripp, Matthew Winner, Donalyn Miller, John Schumacher, Yangsook Choi, Laura Pegram, Liz Steinglass, Michelle Schaub and the Authors Take Action and WNDB communities.