
Write to Rise:
Spoken Word for Social Change
Five Tuesdays:
July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5, 2025
1:30PM – 4:30PM
for students 14-17 years old
Location: TBD, Palo Alto
Tuition: $500
Like an impulse you can't drop
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The rush of relief that pen to paper brings
The possibilities that lie within an empty journal
A gateway to art
Art that is ours
All of it
Ours
Storytelling is meant to turn heads, win hearts, and open minds. This artistic safe space is intended for students to sharpen their poetry writing skills and contribute to the ever-changing dialogue on a subject that speaks to them. Such topics can include but are not limited to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, mental health awareness, environmental activism, and women's issues.
Students' creativity can come in the form of spoken word poetry, lyrical prose, or both. The session will conclude with an opportunity for the young writers to present their projects and perform their poetry during our open mic showcase.
The class will be co-facilitated by spoken word poet River Sutaria and seasoned Creator School instructor Kari Nygaard. It will be capped at 12 students—enough that we will have a wealth of ideas and perspectives, but small enough to ensure personalized attention from the instructors each day.
Meet Your Instructors

River Sutaria (formerly known as Jharna) is a spoken-word performer and creative writer. They were introduced to slam poetry during their freshman year of high school and have been sharpening their craft ever since. River’s writing style is a kaleidoscope of haunting confessions, vivid imagery, and poetic metaphors. It is through sharing their intimate pieces of work that the twenty-four-year-old poet encourages others to use their voice. River is the author of three published books (it hurts to breathe, The Twinkle in Her Eyes, and Write It in Lipstick).
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Kari Nygaard has taught middle school English for twenty years. She currently works at JLS Middle School in Palo Alto and teaches the Creative Writing elective there. She has also taught in a variety of summer programs for youth all over the Bay Area, developing courses in civic leadership, design thinking, creative writing, Italian, music, and even HIV/AIDS education (in Malawi, Africa, back in 2003). She has worked with the San Jose Area Writing Project both as a participant and an instructor, and in 2015, she co-wrote a staff-student musical for her middle school.
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