In our second annual event, we're hosting a night of spoken word and sharing on August 11th at local nonprofit Uptown Bill's. This year's event theme is This Is Our Peace: Many Races, One Iowa.

We're inviting writers to submit positive-but-honest short poems or essays on topic of racial inclusion and living together in harmony. This is a topic that is sensitive and of the moment, and we believe that writing and sharing is a poignant way to open hearts and minds to the way forward.

Submissions will also be considered for inclusion in our publication featuring a collection of final pieces. Poems and essays should be submitted to the Iowa Writers' House at submissions@iowawritershouse.org by Thursday, August 4th for presentation and August 11th for consideration for publication.