What We Offer

Poetry Workshop Series

COMMA offers immersive poetry and spoken word workshops designed for middle and high school students, educators, and community groups. Our sessions transform writing into voice and voice into community. Participants engage in creative writing, performance, and peer collaboration that align with California English Language Arts and Literacy Standards—specifically those focused on narrative writing, language development, and speaking and listening.

Through guided storytelling, reflection, and performance-based activities, students strengthen essential skills in communication, critical thinking, and self-expression. Educators will find these workshops support classroom goals in developing students’ confidence as writers and speakers, while also nurturing social-emotional growth and cultural awareness.

Each workshop provides a brave and creative space for participants to:

  • Explore identity and voice through narrative and poetic forms

  • Practice presentation and performance skills that align with CA Speaking & Listening standards

  • Collaborate and give constructive feedback in small groups

  • Foster empathy and community connection through shared storytelling

Our facilitators are professional poets and teaching artists who center equity, creativity, and student voice—helping participants experience poetry as a living art that uplifts, connects, and heals.

Professional Development

COMMA’s professional development programs are designed for educators, administrators, nonprofit leaders, and community organizers who are ready to build more inclusive, creative, and connected learning environments.

Grounded in the California Arts Standards, English Language Arts Standards, and Social-Emotional Learning Competencies, our sessions blend practical strategies with experiential learning. Each offering centers equity, creativity, and cultural responsiveness, empowering participants to integrate the arts as a vehicle for authentic engagement and collective care.

Core Pathways Include:

  • Diversity, Equity & Belonging: Build inclusive environments that uplift diverse voices and promote agency, empathy, and representation.

  • Arts-Based Community Engagement: Learn how to use the arts to strengthen school culture, deepen relationships, and foster civic participation.

  • Youth Development & Mentorship: Explore tools to nurture student leadership, creative confidence, and emotional well-being through mentorship and expressive practice.

  • Arts Integration for Educators: Discover how to align creative projects with ELA, VAPA, and Social Studies standards to enhance literacy, critical thinking, and joy in learning.

These sessions go beyond professional growth—they cultivate community care and sustainable culture change. Participants leave with ready-to-use frameworks, arts-based facilitation techniques, and renewed inspiration to teach, lead, and connect with purpose.

Sustainable Community Wellness Pilot Program

The Sustainable Community Wellness Initiative (SCWI) is a collaborative, year-long journey for schools and educational communities committed to lasting cultural transformation. Designed for **administrators, educators, staff, and students

COMMA Fellowship Program

The COMMA Fellowship Pilot Program is a nine-month immersive learning experience designed for emerging artists who are ready to deepen their creative practice and strengthen their impact as community leaders.

Rooted in the California Arts Standards and Arts, Media & Entertainment Career Pathways, the program integrates artistic training with civic engagement, guiding fellows to explore how creative expression can be a catalyst for social change, joy, and collective healing.

Fellows specialize in disciplines such as poetry, theatre, dance, multimedia, and visual arts, while receiving sustained mentorship from professional teaching artists, cultural workers, and community organizers. Through a balance of studio practice, public engagement projects, and reflective learning, participants gain both artistic mastery and real-world leadership experience.

Program Highlights:

  • Artistic Development: Advance technical and conceptual skills through mentorship, critique, and collaboration.

  • Community Leadership: Design and implement arts-based community projects that promote equity, inclusion, and well-being.

  • Professional Skills: Learn project management, public speaking, and arts entrepreneurship aligned with CTE and College/Career Readiness standards.

  • Showcase & Reflection: Present culminating creative works that highlight each fellow’s personal growth and social vision.

By the end of the fellowship, participants emerge as artist-citizens—creators who understand their power to use art as an instrument of education, advocacy, and transformation. The COMMA Fellowship builds a network of young artists dedicated to shaping vibrant, just, and creative communities across California and beyond.

Poetry for Empowerment Pilot Program

Poetry for Empowerment (PFE) is an interdisciplinary, arts-integrated program that invites schools and youth organizations to explore the transformative power of poetry and performance. Rooted in California’s English Language Arts and Visual & Performing Arts Standards, PFE helps students and teachers connect literacy with lived experience—using poetry as a bridge between academic vigor, identity exploration, and social-emotional growth.

Through guided workshops, co-teaching sessions, and live showcases, participants:

  • Develop voice, fluency, and confidence in alignment with Speaking & Listening and Writing standards

  • Engage in creative collaboration that enhances critical thinking and empathy

  • Learn performance techniques that encourage presence, articulation, and audience awareness

  • Use poetry as a tool for truth-telling, healing, and community building

This program supports teachers in embedding arts practices into core curriculum while amplifying the stories and perspectives that already exist within their classrooms. Together, we celebrate creativity as both pedagogy and empowerment, cultivating voices that inspire change.

Book an Appointment

Not sure which program is the best fit for your school, organization, or community? We invite you to begin with a complimentary 30-minute consultation. This is a relaxed, no-pressure conversation where we’ll learn about your goals, explore your community’s needs, and help you discover which of our creative programs can make the biggest impact. Whether you’re considering a single workshop, a long-term partnership, or a custom project, this consultation ensures we co-create something meaningful, effective, and rooted in your community’s vision.

Contact us.

creativityisourbusiness@gmail.com
(555) 555-5555

123 Demo Street
New York, NY 12345