Furious Flower Poetry Center

Furious Flower Poetry Center A department of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA Established on October 28, 1999, the Center is dedicated to the memory of poet Gwendolyn Brooks.

We bring the diverse voices of African American poets to a wide audience by collaborating with educational and cultural institutions, literary organizations, and artists. A department of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the Furious Flower Poetry Center is committed to being a resource to both the campus and the nation through education, research, and publishing. We enact our mis

sion by hosting visiting poets for readings at JMU and nearby venues; sponsoring workshops for emerging poets; holding an annual poetry camp for rising third to eighth graders; producing texts, videos, DVDs and other materials on African American poetry; and gathering poets and scholars for panels, seminars, and conferences.

Join us, Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 PM in Carrier Library Room 1011, for our 9th annual Poetry Prize reading featur...
08/27/2026

Join us, Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 PM in Carrier Library Room 1011, for our 9th annual Poetry Prize reading featuring acclaimed prize judge Major Jackson!

Bask in a poetry-filled evening as we honor the Poetry Prize Winner, Wes Matthews, and Honorable Mention recipient, Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe.

The reading will conclude with a book signing with Major Jackson at the reception in the Gwendolyn Brooks Reading Room and Furious Flower Suite. This event is free and open to the public, and we openly welcome the poetry-curious. Free parking will be available across the street in the Grace Street Parking Garage.

For those looking for more poetry engagement, Major Jackson will offer two workshops, on and off campus.

On Campus - Furious Flower Poetry Workshop with Major Jackson
Friday, September 18 | 12-1:15 PM | Gwendolyn Brooks Reading Room - Open to JMU Faculty, Staff, and Students

Off Campus - Tell Your Story: FFPC X Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project Community Poetry Workshop and Participant Open Mic with Major Jackson
Saturday, September 19 | Workshop 11AM | Open Mic 1:30PM | Northeast Neighborhood Community Center - open to the public!

Registration for the workshops is highly advised, but not required. You can find registration links in our bio!

Welcome back to school, Dukes! As you get acclimated (or reacclimated) to campus, Furious Flower invites you to visit us...
08/26/2026

Welcome back to school, Dukes! As you get acclimated (or reacclimated) to campus, Furious Flower invites you to visit us in our new suite on the second floor of the wonderfully renovated Carrier Library. Swipe left for a sneak peek at this semester's programming calendar.

We've got lots of readings, workshops on and off campus, and more. Between events, come view our browsing library, broadside collection, or just say hi and study by our floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking campus and the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley.

It's a new chapter for us, and we're so glad you get to be part of it!

Happy school year & Go Dukes! đź’śđź’›

Photo in the first slide courtesy of James Madison University

What's this? The latest issue of The Fight & The Fiddle!? Immerse yourself in the incredible mind and work of poet Sean ...
08/04/2026

What's this? The latest issue of The Fight & The Fiddle!? Immerse yourself in the incredible mind and work of poet Sean Hill.

The Summer 2026 Issue highlights the historical exploration and perspective blending present throughout Hill's work. This issue features:

- an exclusive interview facilitated by Gbenga Adesina
- a critical review of Hill's work by Wesley Rothman
- new poems by the main poet himself
- a creative prompt to ground your next revision

What are you waiting for? Don't walk, run to the link in our bio!

It's official! Furious Flower moved into the historic and newly renovated Carrier Library today! We can't wait to share ...
06/22/2026

It's official! Furious Flower moved into the historic and newly renovated Carrier Library today! We can't wait to share our new space with you in August, but for now, the work of unpacking begins. Stay tuned for more details.

This Juneteenth, donate to Getting Word or purchase a book from Bookshop.org.  Every dollar helps the collective do the ...
06/20/2026

This Juneteenth, donate to Getting Word or purchase a book from Bookshop.org.  Every dollar helps the collective do the vital work of protecting, preserving, and promoting Black Literature. You can find the donation link our bio.

As a member of the Getting Word Collective, Furious Flower has partnered with Bookshop.org to offer a Juneteenth-inspired poetry booklist.
 
True to our mission, this list celebrates the work of accomplished new and established poets, offers the Furious Flower anthology as an educational resource, and remembers the work of poets who have left us their words as legacy.

This past weekend, Furious Flower said goodbye to two team members: Post-Doc Fellow Gbenga Adesina and Special Projects ...
06/10/2026

This past weekend, Furious Flower said goodbye to two team members: Post-Doc Fellow Gbenga Adesina and Special Projects Coordinator Nikema Bell. These two made incredible contributions to the team, and they will not be easily replaced.

Nikema and Gbenga, we will miss seeing your faces around the office, but we know this is only goodbye for now. Once a member of Furious Flower, ALWAYS a member. We wish you well on this next chapter!

Until we meet again!

Furious Flower Fellow Gbenga Adesina's debut collection, "Death Does Not End at the Sea," was shortlisted for the Griffi...
06/05/2026

Furious Flower Fellow Gbenga Adesina's debut collection, "Death Does Not End at the Sea," was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize.

Gbenga, we are so proud of the momentous success of your first book! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey.

In case you haven’t heard by now, we’re giving another HUGE round of applause for our Executive Director, Lauren K. Alle...
05/29/2026

In case you haven’t heard by now, we’re giving another HUGE round of applause for our Executive Director, Lauren K. Alleyne, who received the Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize for Literature!

In an interview, Lauren stated that this was “unspeakably rewarding—to have a jury of renowned writers select me, and my work, for this amazing opportunity.”

Alongside the prestige that comes with the prize, she will also be awarded several months of residency in a multidisciplinary community at the American Academy of Rome.

The Dean of JMU's College of Arts and Letters, which houses the Furious Flower Poetry Center, commented, “This honor reflects not only her individual excellence but also the vibrant creative community she has helped cultivate through the Furious Flower Poetry Center.”

Words cannot express the pride we feel about Lauren’s success!

To read the JMU announcement, follow the link in our bio.

It's not too late for JMU students to apply for the 2026 Carmen R. Gillespie Fellowship! Still on the fence? Check out ...
05/27/2026

It's not too late for JMU students to apply for the 2026 Carmen R. Gillespie Fellowship! Still on the fence? Check out three of our favorite perks of being on the team:

1) Be in community with and take workshops from amazing, award-winning, and internationally renowned poets!

2) Attend regional and national literary conferences as a part of the Furious Flower Team!

3) GET PAID TO READ AND STUDY BLACK POETRY!

Piqued your interest now? Applications close Tuesday, June 30th, at 11:59 PM. See the link in our bio for fellowship requirements and application details. We can't wait to work with you!

The shelves are empty, and the walls bear the outlines of the frames they once held. It's obvious now: our time at Cardi...
05/13/2026

The shelves are empty, and the walls bear the outlines of the frames they once held. It's obvious now: our time at Cardinal House is winding down. In the words of our Office and Communications Coordinator, Tara Dolen, "We are just 24 working days away from our big move to Carrier Library!"

This house has held so much. It welcomed poets such as Ross Gay, Danez Smith, and Safia Elhillo. It held the launch of our Fellow, Dr. Gbenga Adesina's award-winning book, "Death Does Not End at the Sea". It witnessed the passing of the torch from Executive Founding Director, Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin, to our current Executive Director, Lauren K. Alleyne. We are in the midst of the end and beginning of something powerful here.

As the semester wraps up and we enter the final stages of this chapter, we offer our gratitude to all of the students, faculty, community members, visiting poets, and so many others who have graced the walls of Cardinal House since we arrived here in 2013. It is because of you that this house felt like a home.

We'll have more updates to share as the summer progresses, and we can hardly wait to welcome you to the Furious Flower SUITE next fall!

Do you have a favorite memory at Cardinal House? We would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Address

880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA
22807

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15405688883

Website

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