Are you a high school poet ready to amplify your voice?
We are currently accepting submissions for the next Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate competition! Apply by March 30, 2025.
What’s MYPL all about?
Open to Milwaukee County freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate (MYPL) program is an exciting opportunity to represent our city’s youth voice. Each year, we select one poet laureate, but MYPL is more than a competition. It’s a supportive community where young poets connect, collaborate, and make a difference.
The 2025 Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate will receive:
- A $500 book allowance
- A paid summer internship with Woodland Pattern
- Mentorship and opportunities to perform, facilitate workshops, and compete for regional and national titles
MARCH EVENTS
Open Mic: resound return
*IN PERSON*
Fri. Mar. 28 | 7 pm CDT | Open to the public
Concert: Alternating Currents Live presents Beautifulish
*HYBRID*
Sun. Mar. 30 | 7 pm CDT | $15 General ($13 Members)
Exhibition: This Rhythm That's Mine
*On view through June 29*
Work by Intisar Abioto, Willemijn Bolks, Aaaalexandra Martins, Wendy Ronaldson, Olivia Simmons (plus JJJJJerome Ellis). Co-curated by JJJJJerome Ellis, and Julia Leone and Aidan Sank from SPACE.
APRIL EVENTS
Community Group: Readshop
*ONLINE on Zoom*
Wed. April 2, 16, & 30 | 6-7:15 pm CDT | Open to the public
Poetry Reading: Kai Ihns and Sara Larsen
*HYBRID*
Thur. April 3 | 7 pm CDT | $Give What You Can
Concert: Alternating Currents Live presents Trio Blonk, Smith, & Zerang
*HYBRID*
Fri. April 4 | 7 pm CDT | $15 ($13 Members)
Workshop: Places We Call Home with Brenda Cárdenas
*IN PERSON*
Sat. April 12 | 2-5 pm CDT | Free with registration
Poetry Reading & Panel Discussion: Places We Call Home
*HYBRID*
Sun. April 13 | 2 pm CDT | $Give What You Can
Poetry Reading: UWM’s Distinguished Lecture Series presents Ada Limón
*IN PERSON at UWM*
Tue. April 15 | 7 pm CDT | $10 (Free for UWM students)
Concert: Formations Series for New & Improvised Music
*HYBRID*
Set 1—Hal Rammel Set 2—Timothy Russell Trio
Thur. April 17 | 7 pm CDT | $10
Special Event: Milwaukee Zine Fest!
*IN PERSON at MPL Central*
Sat. April 19 | 10:30 AM-4:30 PM | Free and open to the public
Poetry Reading and Conversation: Ed Pavlić
*HYBRID at UWM*
Thur. April 24 | 5:30 pm CDT | Free and open to the public
Open Mic: resound return
*IN PERSON*
Fri. April 25 | 7 pm CDT | Open to the public
Poetry Reading: Donald Revell
*HYBRID*
Sun. April 27 | 2 pm CDT | $Give What You Can
Poetry Reading: Teen Poetry Fest hosted by Aleena Ahmed
*IN PERSON at MPL Mitchell St.*
Mon. April 28 | TIME TBD (Most likely 5–7:30 pm CDT; please check back for updates) | Free and open to the public
Visit our unique collection of small-press poetry
Did you know Woodland Pattern is home to a nationally recognized collection of over 25,000 small-press poetry titles? To the largest selection of haiku in North America? To the biggest selection of books by Native American authors in Wisconsin? To broadsides, zines, chapbooks, pamphlets, and other hand-made items?
The dissemination of independent literature—particularly poetry, unconventional texts, works that honor bookmaking as a visual art, books by small- and micro-press publishers, and literature by writers from historically marginalized backgrounds—has been central to our purpose since our founding. Our inventory decisions are mission-driven, allowing us to support writers and publishers in ways that are inconceivable for a commercial bookseller.
Come in and discover. We encourage visitors to read and study at their leisure, and to use our space to learn more about poetry, book arts, and small-press publishing. You can also visit our online book center to browse selections from our inventory, or give us a call at (414) 263-5001 to see if we have a title in stock. As always, we will gladly place special orders, ship books to your home, and offer contactless pick-up at your request.
We acknowledge that in Milwaukee we live and work on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami, part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.
We further acknowledge the grave evil colonialism introduced to these lands through genocide as well as slavery, and also via racist and xenophobic beliefs, laws, and practices that continue to inflict harm upon Black, brown, and Indigenous lives. We honor those who have lived—and do live, now—at these intersections of identity and experience, and are committed to the active dismantling of white supremacy.
720 E. Locust Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: 414 263 5001
Hours: Tues–Sun | 12-7 pm
Closed Mon
Building Accessibility: Despite the age of our physical location, and attendant limitations to access, Woodland Pattern is committed to making its programs and facilities available for as many as possible. Please call for more information.
Events Accessibility: Woodland Pattern is able to offer captioning services for its online events and with advanced notice can provide ASL interpretation for live events. Please contact us with accommodation requests and questions.
© Woodland Pattern 2025