2025 All Writes Reserved (AWR) Large Print Program

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

• Lincoln Southwest High School

• Duchesne Academy

• Millard North High School

• Fairbury Jr/Sr High School

• Millard South High School

• Grand Island High School

• Norfolk High School

• Gretna High School

• Norris High School

• Hastings High School

• Omaha Benson High School

• Lewis & Clark Middle School

• Omaha Bryan High School

• Lincoln Arts & Humanities

• Omaha Burke High School

• Lincoln East High School

• Omaha Central High School

• Lincoln High School

• Omaha Jesuit Academy

• Lincoln North Bend

• Omaha South High School

• Lincoln Southeast 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

• Lozier Foundation • Mark & Suzanne Cooley

• Cooper Foundation

• Nebraska Arts Council

• David & Ashley Jarvis

• Nebraska Cultural Endowment

• Dr. Anne & Steve Bruckner

• Omaha Community Foundation

• Gretchen & Jack McGill

• Omaha Public Schools Foundation

• Heider Family Foundation

• Roger & Kate Weitz

• Humanities Nebraska

• The Sherwood Foundation

• Ilka Oberst & Gary Marshall

• The Sommer Family

• Jetton Charitable Fund

• Tina & Dan Lonergan

• Joan & Lawrence Friend

• Todd & Betiana Simon

• LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund

• Weitz Family Foundation

• Lincoln Community Foundation

• Woods Charitable Fund

DONATE ONLINE

Scan the QR code or visit newriters.org/donate

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The National Willa Cather Center enriches lives by advancing Willa Cather's legacy locally and beyond through education, preservation, and the arts.

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.

FOR TEACHERS 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.