About Our High School Poetry Program

The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts welcomes back Monterey poet, artist, and teacher Patrice Vecchione for her third year as Poet-in-Schools and contest judge. For many years, Patrice has led poetry workshops for students through her program, The Heart of the Word. She’s the author of two collections of poetry; the editor of many poetry anthologies, most recently Ink Knows No Borders: Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee experience; and the author of three nonfiction books on the imagination and creativity. In 2020, her book for young adults on up, My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth was published by Seven Stories Press.

Each year the poetry program offers fully-funded poetry writing workshops by the Poet-in-Schools to any high school in Monterey County. This year, between January and April, Patrice will lead workshops in a variety of schools. During her tenure, she’s taught at Carmel High, Pacific Grove High, Palma, Rancho Cielo, and Rancho San Juan. Each session includes the reading of a few poems to inspire the young writers, instructions, and an opportunity to read their new work aloud and receive supportive responses from Patrice.