Experience the Power of Spoken Word!
For 14 years, All Writes Reserved has been a space where young poets share their voices, challenge perspectives, and build connections through the power of spoken word. This festival is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of creativity, courage, and community.
Thank you for being here to show your support. Whether you’re performing, judging, or cheering from the audience, your presence helps uplift and amplify the next generation of storytellers.
Take in every moment—these young poets have something powerful to say.
Meet the 2025 Festival Teams
Each year, All Writes Reserved reaches over 500 high school students across 30+ schools in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, providing free weekly poetry and performance workshops led by Nebraska Writers Collective Teaching Artists.
To get to tonight, these young poets spend months developing their craft—learning to shape their experiences into poetry, refining their performance skills, and building confidence in their voices.
• Bellevue East High School
• Duchesne Academy
• Fairbury Jr/Sr High School
• Grand Island High School
• Gretna High School
• Hastings High School
• Lewis & Clark Middle School
• Lincoln Arts & Humanities
• Lincoln East High School
• Lincoln High School
• Lincoln North Bend
• Lincoln Southeast High School
• Lincoln Southwest High School
• Millard North High School
• Millard South High School
• Norfolk High School
• Norris High School
• Omaha Benson High School
• Omaha Bryan High School
• Omaha Burke High School
• Omaha Central High School
• Omaha Jesuit Academy
• Omaha South High School
• Omaha Westview High School
Investing in the Next Generation of Poets
Bringing spoken word poetry into classrooms and onto festival stages takes more than passion—it takes investment. Each year, we commit over $1,000 per All Writes Reserved student to provide the guidance, resources, and opportunities they need to grow as writers and performers.
This work is possible because of you. Thank you for believing in these young poets and making space for their voices to be heard.
• Annette & Paul Smith
Charitable Foundation
• Cooper Foundation
• David & Ashley Jarvis
• Dr. Anne & Steve Bruckner
• Gretchen & Jack McGill
• Heider Family Foundation
• Humanities Nebraska
• Ilka Oberst & Gary Marshall
• Jetton Charitable Fund
• Joan & Lawrence Friend
• LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund
• Lincoln Community Foundation
• Lozier Foundation
• Mark & Suzanne Cooley
• Nebraska Arts Council
• Nebraska Cultural Endowment
• Omaha Community Foundation
• Omaha Public Schools Foundation
• Roger & Kate Weitz
• The Sherwood Foundation
• The Sommer Family
• Tina & Dan Lonergan
• Todd & Betiana Simon
• Weitz Family Foundation
• Woods Charitable Fund
The National Willa Cather Center enriches lives by advancing Willa Cather's legacy locally and beyond through education, preservation, and the arts.
FOR TEACHERS FOR ALL CATHER ENTHUSIASTS
Save the date for the 70th annual Willa Cather Spring Conference, June 5-7, 2025
We are delighted to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley to Red Cloud, Nebraska. Smiley's Friday evening talk on "Willa Cather, My Ántonia and the Life of a Writer" will mark the conclusion of a year-long celebration of Cather's 1918 novel as a title selected by the National Endowment for the Arts' 2024-2025 Big Read program Additional conference programs will celebrate the 100th publication anniversary of Cather's 1925 novel The Professor's House
Enhance instructional support materials with our educational resources about Cather in general as well as specific novels and short stories.
Book a field trip at an affordable rate, or utilize our virtual tours that are free to all
Experience our annual Willa Cather Spring Conference as an attendee or presenter
Apply to our annual Teacher Institute to take part in a unique and immersive professional development experience!
FOR STUDENTS
Access digitized collections, biographical information, and scholarly articles at willacather.org
Explore the dynamic history of a small American town in an effort to understand the past and create a richer future. Can’t visit in-person? Go to virtualcather.org.
Pursue scholarship and internship opportunities available to graduating high school students, advanced undergraduate, and graduate students conducting research about Cather and her work.
Learn more about our educational services by visiting our website, www.WillaCather.org. Ready to begin your exploration or teaching of Cather? Contact Rachel Olsen, director of education and engagement, at rolsen@willacather.org.
