From the Bayou, We Speak
Who I am
Where we come from, what we carry, and who we're becoming here.
Goals & Vision
Every voice matters
The languages people bring with them are a strength, not something to leave at the door. Here is what this project sets out to do.
Two prompts
Every piece answers one of two questions.
The world I envision
The future we're imagining for ourselves, our families and our city.
Our goals
What we set out to do
Honor home languages
Present each poem in the language it was written in, with its translation beside it, so no one has to choose between who they were and who they are becoming.
Put ESL artists on the stage
Bring forward voices that are often left out of the arts, and pay every selected artist for their work.
Keep the work
Preserve the poems, art and recordings in an online archive that anyone can visit, read and hear.
Bring neighbors together
Create a welcoming space where Houstonians meet each other through poetry, and where an open mic invites everyone to add their own voice.
Make the arts accessible
A multilingual call for submissions, a free event at a public library, and a website in five languages.
Grow with the city
Start with five languages and leave room for more, so the project can keep growing alongside Houston.
This year
The first collection
7poems
5works of art
5languages
1city
Looking ahead
More languages, more voices
This first collection is a beginning. We hope it inspires more support for multilingual art in Houston and invites more languages into the project.
Over time, this site can grow into a place where writers and readers keep finding each other, long after the showcase is over.
