The Poet House (TPH) was founded in Austin by Michael Hatcher and Jasmine Games, inspired by Michael’s poetry upbringing under Giselle Robinson, a nationally awarded poet who opened her home, known as G’s House, to nurture writers. Her commitment to community planted the seed for TPH, a space that honors her vision by using poetry and performance as tools for connection and transformation.

 

How We Began

TPH grew from free programs designed to remove barriers to participation.

• Courageous Cadence (CC): Launched in 2020 by Jasmine at The University of Texas at Austin, CC began as a Performing Justice Project using spoken word for racial and gender justice. First supported virtually during the pandemic, the program transitioned into residencies with the African American Youth Harvest Foundation’s Urban University and later at The VORTEX. To date, CC has served more than 90 high school youth at no cost, providing youth with free opportunities to write and perform, and to see themselves as leaders, healers, and changemakers.

• every.Word Poetry (EWP): Created in 2023 by Michael, EWP began with grassroots poetry cyphers outside the Mueller Alamo Drafthouse after Austin Poetry Slam events ended. These late-night street performances quickly became one of Austin’s most vibrant spoken word platforms, amplified by videos shared across social media. In July 2024, EWP hosted its first free open mic at The VORTEX and has since welcomed over 2,000 poets and poetry enthusiasts across 75+ events, continuing to provide artists with free recordings of their performances while paying hosts, features, and facilitators.

In 2024, Michael and Jasmine combined their visions to form The Poet House, a home where poetry fuels artistry, activism, and community care. Today, as a fiscally sponsored project of the Austin Creative Alliance and in the process of securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, TPH carries forward the legacy of Black spoken word tradition while building sustainable structures for the future.

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Who We Serve

The Poet House serves diverse spoken word artists and audiences, with a focus on those historically underrepresented in Austin’s arts spaces. We center and uplift:

• Black and BIPOC communities across the African American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, and African diasporas

• Queer and trans communities (65% of our participants identify as LGBTQIA+)

• Poets with disabilities and neurodivergent artists (13% identify with a disability; 42% are neurodivergent)

• Youth, who make up nearly 10% of our community, with 40% of programming intentionally designed for youth development

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Why We Exist

Spoken word, a historically Black art form, calls out injustice while remaining under-supported. For too long, poets have lacked consistent venues and resources, with much of the work sustained through unpaid labor. The Poet House addresses this gap by building care-centered spaces where poets can create, perform, and grow.