This is a landing page sharing a few resources for creative writers who want to engage with political or social issues. I facilitate workshops on this topic all the time, and want to make as much of that content as free and accessible as possible. Obviously, I don’t have all the answers, but I hope something here can be useful.

A framing note: the resources on this page are specifically about creative writing and communication. But I am also a firm believer that artists have more to offer than our art. Alongside the resources below, please also check out this other resource page sharing practical, concrete calls-to-action for artists and non-artists alike.

1. My Asynchronous Class: Meeting the Moment: Political Poetry and the Anthemic Impulse

In 2025, I shared this fully asynchronous virtual class on what art and artists have to offer in times of crisis – it includes seven videos (over two hours of content), audio downloads for people who prefer to listen, podcast-style, and a 14-page downloadable workbook full of resources, writing prompts, and more. Here is a free sample: one of the seven videos! This one focuses on what I mean by the anthemic impulse:

2. Poetry Against ICE Panel Discussion

Filmed in February of 2026, this is a two-hour deep-dive into the tools and tactics that poets use to address social and political issues (with a specific focus here on the ICE/CBP/DHS assault on Minnesota in early 2026). I talk with three poets who are also teaching artists; we share a few poems, but also analysis, craft-related observations, and much more:

3. The Slides (including 7 writing prompts!) from my Salt, Warmth, and Force: Poetry Against ICE class

Also in February of 2026, I facilitated this class multiple times, some online, some in-person. I don’t have full recordings to share, but I can share a few of the resources, like these slides:

Feb 2026 Button Workshop (Poetry Against ICE)

4. Food-for-Thought: Starting Your Own Writing Group

This may feel out-of-place here, since this is a page full of resources related to “political writing.” But our approach to writing is a political choice too, and this is a resource encouraging us to disrupt the narrative that writing is some hyper-individualist, lone-genius pursuit. We are more powerful together.

writing exercises.

I’d also shout out a few existing communities and opportunities:

• Poet Ariana Brown offers a digital writing community and classes.
• Button Poetry’s full slate of virtual workshops.
• Poet Neil Hilborn offers a virtual writing circle.
  • I’m highlighting those three because they are virtual. If you’re with me here in the Twin Cities, however, there are also in-person opportunities like ReVerb, Better Things, Buckslam and more. I keep a running list here.

5. Poetry “Playlists” Organized by Issue

An ongoing project – the idea here is that for people doing narrative-shifting work or organizing around these issues, these collections of poems can be useful as doorways, conversation-starters, and inspiration.

• A Few Poems Exploring Immigration, Movement, and a Future Without Borders (including a whole section on voices from Minnesota in 2026)
• A Handful of Poems as Doorways into Dialogue About Palestine
• Find more poetry playlists (on consent, abolition, counter-narrative masculinity, reproductive justice, and other issues) here.

And Beyond

Just about everything on my website could find a home on this page, but I’ll highlight a few specific links:

• Already mentioned this, but another shout out to this Resources for Creative Troublemakers page sharing all of the 2026 links I want to amplify (with a specific focus on Minnesota), with some special emphasis on how artists can show up.
• Even more political writing prompts!
• My hope is that people can take these resources and run with them, but I also make my living visiting schools, organizations, conferences, and other community spaces. Here is my booking info, for anyone who might be interested in hosting a program, workshop, or performance.

Finally, a few more videos: (1) an interview on artists meeting the moment in 2026; (2) a workshop video from 2021 on “writing for social impact” that I recorded for TruArtSpeaks’ annual youth writing and performance conference; (3) another interview with a focus on poetry as counter-narrative work, and (4) my TEDx talk exploring how the creative process can mirror the process of getting involved in activism.

I know there is a TON of content on this page. But if you want even more, you can always find my poems here, various poetry “playlists” organized around issue/subject matter here, and subscribe to my free newsletter here. Thanks for reading.