The Power of Words
By Sam Pierstorff
As the year winds down, the Modesto Artists Movement isn’t slowing down. We are writing our own powerful final chapter of 2025 and we invite you to join us! November in Modesto belongs to writers, dreamers, and the brave souls willing to put their thoughts on paper and share them aloud.
On November 12th (6-9pm), Write Night returns to Queen Bean Coffee & Social House, offering a free community writing class for anyone who wants to write, reflect, share, and connect. No experience required. Just bring your curiosity, your courage, and maybe your favorite pen or journal. In a world that often rushes past emotion, writing invites us to pause, to breathe, and to remember that language can heal as much as it can inspire.
On November 26th (7:30-9:30pm), the mic heats up for SLaM on RyE, Modesto’s long-standing poetry slam, featuring powerhouse poet Queen D and a lineup of community poets and new voices ready to take the stage and share the art of spoken word. Expect laughter, goosebumps, and a reminder that poetry isn’t just about words. It’s about community building and sharing stories that generate empathy and understanding and giving voice to those who desire to speak their truths.
And as we turn the page to December, Modesto View and the Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group present The ILL LIST Poetry Slam Invitational, celebrating its 20th anniversary on December 13th at the State Theatre, bringing together past champions to perform and to celebrate an unforgettable night of performance poetry. Tickets are on sale now at TheState.org.
These events remind us that poetry isn’t just about self-expression. Poetry is a form of connection. When we write, we remember who we are. When we share, we realize we’re not alone. And when a community gathers around words, the city itself begins to speak. And we are here to listen.
