Celebrating the Seasons: 10 years of CLI

Save the date! 

May 20th at 6 pm PT

Readings by CLI Poets from Season 9:

Larissa Freitas

Annalicia Aguilar

Erica Castro

Margaret Elysia Garcia 

Nailah Porter

Mr. Chai Tea

Andrea Lee

Cory BessKepp Cofer

Faiza Sultan

Anastasia Fenald

VOTH

Followed by an open mic (sign-ups available at the door)

Hosted by AKoldPiece

$7 virtual

$10 at the door

All sales go towards supporting the library.

We also have limited "pay what you can" tickets.

All SLP Donors get free admission.

Poets will have books for sale!

About the Poets:

Larissa Freitas (She/Her) is a Latina poet from Brazil who believes in the transformative and healing powers of literature. Her Portuguese poems and short stories appear in six anthologies and online magazines. Her English poems have been published and/or are forthcoming in works by the Los Angeles Poets Society, the Alebrijes Review, the Fahmidan Journal, the Latinx Lit Audio Magazine, Off-Topic Publishing and La Raiz Magazine. She was the first ever international student accepted into CLI, where she wrote a poetry collection and now works as faculty. ‘Viva, by Definition’, her first chapbook, is out with Bottlecap Press.

Nailah Porter, an LA-based singer, composer, poet, and photographer, has recorded and toured globally with artists from jazz to rock to hiphop. Lyrics from her EmArcy Records debut release, ConJazzNess, were published in Voices from Leimert Park Redux. Her work has appeared in New Note Poetry, The Los Angeles Press, and 1619 Speaks. The North Carolina native recently completed her first book of poetry and photography, CarolinaBlueBlack TobaccoStainedWisdom, and is working on her next project, The Ritual of Mapping. As an artist, attorney, educator, and DEI consultant, Nailah is committed to social justice and creating a world where everyone belongs.

Sutichai Savathasuk (or Mr. Chai Tea) is a 3rd-generation Thai-American who drinks comedy and poetry. He was born and raised in Los Angeles with a background in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State University, Northridge. He shares his stories of being a nerd and an adventurer across various mics. He enjoys hiking, rock climbing, 3D printing, board games, and sharing knowledge. You can find him at local boba shops and on Instagram: @mr.chai_tea

Cory Besskepp Cofer is a proud father, husband, son, brother and friend, who loves to fish and write poems. He’s an hip hop influenced poem-sayer and educator. His Master of Arts in Education and distinct voice allow him to enrich the classroom in ways that can't be quantified. His poetry collection, Dreaming Under Polka-dot Stars hits like soul food, the realest and freshest soup for the spirit. He is co-founder of the legendary poetry reading, A Mic & Dim Lights, a birthing ground for community building and collaboration for creatives locally and beyond. 

Andrea Lee is a poet/chef and author of The Power to Change the Way to Love Yourself and the upcoming Connections Between Us & Expressions of Love: Feelings of Love Courage & Betrayal coming out Summer 2023.She is passionate about helping people understand the positive connection they can create with others. Lee writes about love, loss and betrayal.

Annalicia Aguilar is a poet, screenwriter, playwright, and producer. She graduates with her MFA in Screenwriting for Film and Television this October and has her BFA in Acting from AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. She has been a featured poet for the Trenches Full of Poets Series, the Los Angeles Poet Society, Sim's Library of Poetry, and Riot of Roses Publishing House. You can catch her teaching Performance Techniques for Poets workshops or being a TA for the National 2 Chapter of CLI's Book Publishing Class. She will perform in a spoken word tour this fall with Alegria Publishing, and her debut book of poetry, Broken, But Holding, will be published this year.