2026 Poetry Summit
ONE-DAY POETRY SUMMIT
Registration is open!
Included with main conference registration or stand-alone for $249.
Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Starts at 9 a.m. and ends with our Poetry & Jazz evening event.
Included with main conference registration or stand-alone for $249.
On Saturday February 14, 2026, a stellar line-up of poets will take you on a poetic journey. Join us to hear what inspires, propels and motivates them. Discover how they began their poetic travels, how they gained recognition and became published, and how they use their experiences for poetic expression. Hear about lessons learned, affinity organizations and the importance the poetic form in society. And while you are getting all of that, you will hear some wonderful, stirring, thoughtful and enlightening poetry along the way and get to ask some questions too!
Introducing the Poets of the SFWC Poetry Summit
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Meet the Poets
Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte
Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte is an award-winning, internationally published poet and novelist, and noted speaker and instructor. She is the co-author of the poetry books, “No Poetry No Peace™” and “Traipsing in Poetry Prose and Vignette,” written with her daughter Angela and is the owner of the “No Poetry No Peace™” Poetry Reading Series. A highly praised multi-genre writer, she is the author of the historical fiction novels “Betrayal on the Bayou,” and “Back to the Bayou: The Tassin Valley Saga Continues,” as well as published works of fiction, flash fiction, memoir, and commentary. She was the SFWC 2025 “Writing for Change” Track Coordinator and is the Poetry Summit Coordinator for SFWC 2026. More at www.sheryljbize-boutte.com
Diane Frank
Diane Frank is author of eight books of poems, three novels, and a photo memoir of her 400 mile trek in the Nepal Himalayas. While Listening to the Enigma Variations: New and Selected Poems won the 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Poetry. Diane played cello for 18 years with the Golden Gate Symphony and collaborated with Matt Arnerich to create an orchestral suite based on her poem, "Tree of Life."
Andy Jones
Dr. Andy Jones is a poet, writing professor, journalist, radio talk show host, and podcaster. He has taught writing, literature, and creative writing at UC Davis since 1990 and has served as faculty at the San Francisco Writers Conference for almost 20 years. The author of four books, including three books of poetry, he loves to talk to writers about their projects.
O’Cyrus
O'Cyrus is a 14x award-winning author, independent book publisher, & host of his self-help podcast, “Feel Good Happiness.” Currently serving in the United States Air Force, O’Cyrus has spent the last nine years as a Mental Health Paraprofessional & Substance Abuse Counselor ensuring the betterment of our military service members. His goal through storytelling is to make readers feel fulfilled, inspired, & united.
Kim Shuck
Kim Shuck served as the 7th Poet Laureate of San Francisco. Shuck organizes at least three poetry events per month. Kim is author of nine solo books, one collaborative book, and has contributed to many journals, anthologies, and online poem projects. Shuck has also edited, co-edited, or been credited for being part of the editing of a further ten volumes.
Tongo Eisen-Martin
Tongo Eisen-Martin is San Francisco's 8th Poet Laureate. His latest curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. He is the author of “Someone’s Dead Already”, “Heaven Is All Goodbyes”, “Waiting Behind Tornados for Food”, and “Blood on the Fog”. In 2020, he co-founded Black Freighter Press.
Douglas Cole
Douglas Cole has published six poetry collections and the novel The White Field, winner of the American Fiction Award. He contributes a regular column, “Trading Fours,” to the magazine, Jerry Jazz Musician. He also edits the American section of Read Carpet, a Columbian journal of international writing. He has been nominated Six times for a Pushcart and seven times for Best of the Net.
Emilie Lygren
Emilie Lygren is a poet and educator whose work is grounded in curiosity and reverence. She is the author of two books of poetry and dozens of publications focused on outdoor science education. Currently, Emilie is a professor of creative writing, a poet in the schools, and at work on an anthology of poems on mental health for teens and youth.
Mahnaz Badihian
Mahnaz Badihian(Oba), is a poet, writer, painter, translator. She runs literacy magazine Mahmag.org. She has a DDS, as well as an MA, and MFA in poetry. Currently she is working on her novel Gohar.
Juan Luzuriaga
Juan Luzuriaga, born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, immigrated to the U.S. in 2000. He studied Neuroscience at Rutgers and English at UC Merced. He teaches poetry in prisons, at Cuesta College, and with California Poets in the Schools. His work appears in anthologies, Acentos Review, San Diego Poetry Annual, Cholla Needles and more. He has been a panelist at UC Merced, Cuesta College Writers' Conference, Litfest and others.
Deborah Santana
Deborah Santana is an author, business manager, and activist for peace and social justice. Her non-profit, Do A Little, serves women and girls. In 2005, her memoir: Space Between the Stars was published and she edited the anthology: All the Women in My Family Sing in 2018. She holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women’s Spirituality. She is a Lead Investor in the Courage Museum.
Dave Holt
Dave Holt, born Toronto, Canada, of Irish/English, Anishinaabe/Ojibwe ancestry, graduated from San Francisco State University’s Creative Writing program (B.A. ’93, M.A. ’95). He’s published in Santa Clara Review, Raven Chronicles, Spillway, News from Native California, won a Literary/Cultural Arts award for his book, Voyages to Ancestral Islands, is in several anthologies, most notably Red Indian Road West.
See Them at the Poetry Summit Panels
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Achieving Poetic Recognition: Poet Pathways to Publication
Moderator: Diane Frank
Poet: Andy Jones
Poet/Poetry Organization Rep: TBD
Publisher: O’Cyrus
Summary: Panelists will discuss how poets can become known in the poetic community through affinity organizations, readings, various modes of publication, and more.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Poets Laureate: Poetry Roads Travelled and the Road Ahead
Moderator: Sheryl Bize-Boutte
Laureate: Kim Shuck
Laureate: Tongo-Eisen Martin
Publisher: TBD
Summary: Poets Laureate along with a publisher will discuss their experiences with the poetic publishing landscape, suggested pathways to publication, success, and lessons learned.
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Poetic Origins, Influences and Opportunities
Moderator: Douglas Cole
Poet: Emilie Lygren
Poet: Dave Holt
Agent: TBD
Summary: Panelists will read short selections and discuss how their poetry is influenced by their roots and lifescapes, how to pinpoint the genre within the verse to enhance the possibility of acceptance, and how to find affinity publications and community.
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Poetic Power: Rhyme, Reason, Resistance
Moderator: Mahnaz Badihian
Poet: Juan Luzuriaga
Poet: Deborah Santana
Poet: Douglas Cole
Summary: Poets will read examples of their work as well as the work of historic poets and discuss how the condensed yet rich language of poetry has narrated history and provided foundations for empathy and social awareness
Gala
Beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Stay for the Gala and hear the poets from the summit present some of their amazing work!