SYNERGY SLAM POETS
Ethos & Vision
Synergy Slam Poets:
Forward Prizes Sort Listed Poet and founder of Nature Persists, Zena Edwards, created the Synergy Slam Poetry Competition from the foundational principles of established the Nature Persists ethos:
encourage a wholistic reconnection to the quiet power of nature, so that we can strengthen the muscle of resilience and build a sustainable well-being practice for life in urban environments.
Synergy Slam Poetry Programs are at their core about enjoyment,
knowledge sharing and connection through creativity.
”Nature Persists’ programmes cultivate creative practices that ignite the imagination to promote hopeful narratives about humans investing in culturally future proof cities for generations to come.”
AIMS:
To celebrate the dynamism of EcoPoetry to spark environmental conversations that unpack the layers of human and natures adapatbility to increasing urban environments
To creatively tackle climate change and the ecological emergency to make it accessible for everyone to understand.
OBJECTIVES:
To offer dynamic programs that uplift creativity, the imagination
with a resolute focus on well-being in urban environments using poetry and poetic thinking.
To offer immersive EcoPoetry writing and spoken work programmes for a unique opportunity to explore your creative expression with an environmental conscience.
Through the craft of poetry in performance and spoken word, the aim is to raise awareness about communities of people who are doing great work in local gardening projects, growing food, creating greener and healthier environments for the next generations of people growing up in cities.
Our immersive writing and performance programmes offer a unique opportunity to explore your creative expression with an environmental conscience.
— Zena Edwards
Whether you are a budding writer seeking to refine your skills or an experienced wordsmith looking to explore new dimensions of expression, our programs have something to offer for everyone.
Zena Edwards Biography
After graduating from Middlesex University and studying storytelling and performance at The London International School for Performing Arts, Zena has been a professional writer/performance poet, curator and creative project developer for over 30 years.
She is known as a renowned award winning UK based poet of Afri-Carib-British heritage, however, she is also a multidisciplinary artist, at home with collaborating with musicians, choreographers, environmental growers and visual artists.
www.zenaedwards.com
Arvon at Home Series 2023 - Eco-Poetry Masterclass From The Pastoral To Dystopia And Back Again
"Mosi’s Mothers" - a Poem included in Wilder Journeys - Environmental writer Laurie King and internationally bestselling author Miriam Lancewood a collection of narrative non-fiction stories and poems on the human connection with nature. Watkins Publishing
Culture: The Missing Link - Julie's Bicycle Conference and Discussion Seminar at COP26 2022 as poet in residence
Collaborator with May Project Gardens 2016 - 2018: an award-winning, London-based grassroots organisation who value of our relationship to the earths wisdom. They provide practical, affordable, and collective solutions for people to live sustainably nature, food and creative arts.
Hot Poets - Commissioned poem Mothers of the Forest - Paired with and now patron for the charity Word Forest and Tracy and Simon West to acclimatise themselves to the field of funding for environmental work to support tree nurseries and tree planting and for the education and entrepreneurship of women and girls in Kenya.
Judging panelist for the the Tune Into Nature Music 2021 originated by Professor Miles Richardson from the Nature Connectedness Research Group at the University of Derby and supported by Selfridges, Tileyard London and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Artistic Director for Apples and Snakes Poetry Organisation Music and Spoken Word Show Cece’s Speakeasy 2021.
Lead artist for the launch procession in London for the Culture Declares Emergency with artistic direction by Ackroyd & Harvey, Lucy Neal 2019
Colour Green Podcast - The Colour Green is a new podcast from Julie’s Bicycle exploring the links between climate change, race, nature and social justice from the perspectives of people of colour in the UK.
“Building an Inclusive Movement” - Keynote Speech for Arts Admin and Julies Bicycle ‘Season for Ex-change’ An 8-week programme in April – June 2021 of free online events for artists, arts organisations, cultural practitioners, producers, curators and anyone who wants to learn about, share knowledge or get ideas and inspiration on embedding climate action and climate justice in their artistic and creative work.
Culture Declares Emergency - Guest speaker - The Offer:Reimagining the City 2 2020 - an online cultural response to the climate and ecological emergency.
Director of Climate of Fear for the Flying Solo Festival 2017 with Contact Young Creatives 2017
Weather Fronts Realistic Utopias - A collection of poems and stories by writers responding personally and creatively to the scientific and emotional realities of climate change - Cambria Books, Llandeilo, Wales, United Kingdom