WAN Academy: Poetry as Protest, Resistance, and Reclamation w/ Chibbi

OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK, BECOME A BETTER WRITER & HAVE FUN WITH WRITING AT THE WRITE ABOUT NOW ACADEMY (WANA)

WANA is a year long schedule of instructor-facilitated virtual writing classes.

Every month we are offering writing intensives facilitated by some of the most talented poets from all across the globe.

Each master class will focus on a different topic, but will leave you feeling empowered, enlightened, and elevated in your craft.

If you can't make it at the scheduled time, register anyway! You will also have access to the recordings and workshop material just in case you miss a class or wish to revisit a class you attended.

THIS MONTH'S WORKSHOP: Poetry as Prostest, Resistance, and Reclamation

How do we push back against the systems, corporations, and histories that silence us? What happens when our voices exist outside the mainstream? In this workshop, we’ll use powerful texts—like Chibbi’s “Coco: The Mouse Took Too Many Tequila Shots”, Amir Safi’s “Other Ideas for Pepsi Commercials”, and Danez Smith’s “alternate names for black boys”—to unpack how poets use narrative, resistance, and subversion to reclaim space.  Through prompts, conversation, and craft work, you’ll chart your own counter-narrative: transforming what’s been suppressed into what insists on being heard. This is your invitation to step up, speak out, and write the change you want to see.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Chibbi

Chibbi is a Mexican-born, Texas-raised queer performer, poet, publisher, producer, and community organizer with over 15 years of experience in spoken word. As the Creative Director of Gem.In.Eyes Productions, Chibbi empowers artists through multi-genre projects. They are the Editor-in-Cheif and Director of Virtual Programming at Write About Now, Director of Media Production at Write Art Out, and Sr. Program Manager for Out in Tech. Their first studio album The Target Shoots Back, released in January 2025, is an anthem of resistance and reclamation, a celebration of the complexities and intersections of identity and culture. A three-time San Antonio Poetry Grand Slam Champion, Chibbi has performed nationally and coached teams to top finishes at major slams. Their work, featured in publications like OutSmart and Buzzfeed, has garnered over 3 million views. Chibbi is a recipient of fellowships from Tin House, Lambda Literary, and more, and was the recipient of the 2022 Arts and Letters Award from the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library.

HOW TO ATTEND

A Single Class Pass provides access to an individual class as well as its recording. All classes are free to active, paid monthly Write About Now Members on Facebook, Square or PayPal. For more info on how to become a member, visit www.wanpoetry.com.