The featured poets are Kathy Stoker and Nanayaa Dadzie. The new Host and Director of the Shawna Foundation’s Poetry Program, Kathy Stoker, a poet and educator, joins the fold the 2025 Library Poetry Tour kicks off with readings continuing in Milford and Uxbridge.

We thought the best way to introduce Kathy is with her poetry — she’ll be headlining the February Library Poetry Tour. And joining her will be Nanayaa Dadzie.

We want to thank award-winning Worcester poet Tony Brown for his time as the Foundation’s Poetry Program Director for the past two years.

Kathy Stoker is a 25-plus year secondary English/Journalism teacher, adjunct college professor of communications and English, and education consultant. She currently is in the role of education coordinator for New England Medical Group (an adolescent behavioral health program). Kathy is a former high school slam poetry coach as well as a poetry club advisor. She has written poetry, short stories, and letters since her middle school years (many decades ago!). After teaching incarcerated individuals in a medium security prison, Kathy is writing a collection of poems and vignettes to humanize her former students and break down the stigma surrounding incarcerated individuals.  Kathy loves watching all New England sports, spending time with family and friends, drinking tea, and listening to podcasts and music. She lives in Milford with her family, including the cat Wallace.

Nanayaa Dadzie is a 20 year old poet who is currently earning her associate degree in liberal arts at Quinsigamond Community College. She is a first generation Ghanaian American and an equal rights advocate. When Nanayaa was in high school, she led an equal rights movement in Westborough to implement a non-discrimination, no-tolerance policy in the student handbook for Westborough High School.  Nanayaa loves anything and everything to do with art. She grew up with her Grandpa Henry playing the trumpet and his record collection. He gave Nanayaa and her brother their love for music. In 2022, she won the Senior Library Award. Recently, Nanayaa has been performing her poetry at local open mics. She currently lives in Westborough with her family.

The readings will be held on February 19 at 7 p.m. at the Milford Town Library and February 27 at, 7 p.m. at the Uxbridge Free Public Library.

The program is financed in part by the Milford Cultural Council, the Uxbridge Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Shawna E. Shea Memorial Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit who believes the arts and education are essential to creating a vibrant, healthy community and world.

The mission of the Shawna Foundation is to equitably promote and support students through scholarship and showcase artists in filmmaking, performance arts, poetry and other creative endeavors with a focus on underrepresented communities.
 

For more information visit the shawnafoundation.org