FRIENDS and READERS, I have decided not to keep updating this list of past events. Feel free to reach out to me if you have a question about previous or upcoming events. Thank you! ......... February 15, 2025 Zeina was one of three featured poets — along with E. Ethelbert Miller and Marthaeus Perkins — for the program “Just Love: A Dinner Salon with Jazz & Poetry inspired by James Baldwin,” held at Busboys and Poets in DC and sponsored by George Mason University’s Alan Cheuse International Writers Center. It also featured jazz vocalist Lena Seikaly and her quartet.
January 15, 2025 Zeina made remarks and read an original poem at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. birthday commemoration in Alexandria (held at The George Washington Masonic National Memorial).
January 2, 2025 Zeina read her original poem at the Alexandria City Council Installation Ceremony, titled “Our City Renewed.”
December 13, 2024 The annual “A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest” in Alexandria featured poet and MC Sean Murphy (founder and executive director of 1455) and Zeina Azzam, who read poems about the new year, nature, and jazz, including an original about Ella Fitzgerald.
December 6, 2024 Zeina read her poem, “Death in War,” at the memorial service for Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, cofounder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen, who was killed by Israel in northern Gaza on November 30, 2024.
November 29, 2024 MP Jeremy Corbyn read Zeina’s poem, “Write My Name,” at the Palestine march in London on November 29, the international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
November 17, 2024 Zeina gave a presentation and read poetry for members of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) in Alexandria, VA.
November 15, 2024 The monthly program in Compass Arts in Kensington, MD, Words Out Loud, featured two poets for an evening reading: Zeina Azzam and Indran Amirthanayagan.
November 13, 2024 Zeina gave a presentation and reading in a class at the sociology department, American University.
November 9, 2024 Zeina led and facilitated a poetry workshop for the City of Alexandria titled “Writing Poetry about Loss and Grief.” 12 community members/poets attended.
October 29, 2024 Read poems at a Poetry Slam for Alexandria High School International Academy. October 24, 2024 Did a featured reading for the three-day “Designing for Empathy Summit” at Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athen, PA.
October 13, 2024 Read poems about the Arab American community and Palestine at the New Dominion PAC event.
October 8, 2024 Was one of the readers for the Arab American National Museum’s online poetry event, “Words for Palestine.”
October 7 and 8, 2024
Spent two full days at Alexandria High School’s International Academy to work with six classes of seniors on poetry, with a focus on metaphor and simile.
October 6, 2024 Did a reading for the UNRWA USAfundraiser for Gaza.
October 5, 2024 Participated in the online Matwaala New Books Showcase with Kashiana Singh, Ravi Shankar, and others.
Also offfered an online reading for Ravensworth Baptist Church in their Palestinian art event.
September 15, 2024 Zeina facilitated a poetry session for newly arrived immigrants to Alexandria, VA, at the Campagna Center.
September 14, 2024 Zeina read an original poem written for the 50th anniversary of Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center. It was titled “This Is Our Artful Home.”
September 11, 2024 Zeina made remarks and read an original poem for Alexandria’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony. The poem was a response to Adam Zagajewski’s poem, “Try to Praise the Mutilated World.”
September 7, 2024 Zeina read an original poem written for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial in Alexandria. It was titled “Crossing to Sanctuary.”
September 6, 2024 Zeina served as the featured poet at the monthly poetry series at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub in Del Ray.
August 24, 2024 Was one of ten poets in the reading, “Community Voices: An Intergenerational, Multicultural Community Affair,” organized by poet Sistah Joy Alford (Prince Georges County Poet Laureate Emerita) and held at Surratts-Clinton Branch Library. Clinton, MD
August 23, 2024 Served as one of two featured readers (with poet Danielle Badra) at the Folger Shakespeare Theater in the program, “Arab Music and Poetry Night.” Washington, DC
August 16, 2024 Served as one of two featured readers (with poet Gabrielle Spear) at Rhizome DC in the program, “Intifada Incantations: Performances for Gaza.” Takoma Park, MD
August 4 and 5, 2024 Served as one of two featured readers (with poet Gary Lawless) in Brunswick and Portland, Maine, in a program titled “Rebels and Poets: Irish and Palestinian Music and Poetry of Resistance.” Brunswick and Portland, ME
July 13, 2024 Read an original poem, titled “We Are Alexandria: The People’s Poem,” at the City of Alexandria’s 275th birthday celebration by the Potomac River. Alexandria, VA
July 12, 2024 Served as a featured poet reader at the Museum of the Palestinian People’s program, “Preserving Palestinian Identity: Art as Resistance.” Washington, DC
July 1, 2024 Was one of two featured poets on the monthly online program, Cafe Muse.
June 29, 2024 Zeina read poetry at a fundraiser for UNRWA USA at the Black Cat. Washington, DC June 21, 2024 Zeina read poetry at the annual Alexandria Jazz Fest, part of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival, at Waterfront Park. Alexandria, VA
June 15, 2024 Zeina read poetry about Gaza at the Uptown Pride festival, as part of the Roadwork collective and its Sisterfire series. Washington, DC
June 8, 2024 Zeina did an online reading for the South Windsor (Connecticut) Library.
May 25, 2024 Zeina did a reading at the DC Arab American Culture Festival. Washington, DC
May 17, 2024 Zeina was invited to do a poetry reading at United Nations Headquarters; the event was the commemoration of the 76th year of the Palestinian Nakba. It was sponsored by the UN Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. New York, NY
May 1, 2024 Zeina was the featured speaker at the awards ceremony for the poetry contest sponsored by Alexandria City Public Schools. Alexandria, VA
April 26, 2024 Read two poems and listened to students’ open mic at the Poetry Cafe at Alexandria City High School (Minnie Howard campus). Alexandria, VA
April 25, 2024 Read poems at Palestine heritage event at Jackson-Reed High School. Washington, DC
April 20, 2024 Read poems and participated on a panel titled "Palestinian American Writers Speak: On Remembrance - When Our Words Become Our Strength" at the annual CityLit Festival. Baltimore, MD
April 17, 2024 Zeina MC’d the “Poem in your Pocket” celebration at the Athenaeum. Alexandria, VA
April 12, 2024 Featured reader at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. The event was titled “Palestine in Poetry: Voices from Home and Diaspora.” Edwardsville, IL
April 8, 2024 Opened panel on Gaza, titled “Global Solidarity and Resistance for Justice in Palestine,” with a few poems. The American University, Washington, DC
April 6, 2024 Read poetry at fundraiser for Heal Palestine. Great Falls, VA
April 4, 2024 Featured reader at Islamic Relief USA community iftar. Alexandria, VA
April 3, 2024 Read poetry accompanied by musicians Lena Seikaly (vocals) and Amy Shook (bass), in celebration of National Poetry Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, and National Arab American Heritage Month. Long Branch Community Center, Silver Spring, MD
March 18, 2024 Morning: Zeina was part of a panel about Palestinian women at a side event of the UN General Assembly. She read a poem, spoke about the development of resistance poetry in Palestine, and talked about the youth writing program in Gaza, We Are Not Numbers. Evening: Zeina did a poetry reading at Columbia University/Barnard College sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. New York, NY
March 16, 2024 Zeina conducted a poetry workshop sponsored by the Alexandria Office of the Arts and Beatley Central Library titled “How Food Can Inspire Poetry.” Alexandria, VA
March 13, 2024 The Alexandria Choral Society released a recording of “You Birth the Seeds,” a poem by Zeina Azzam that was set to four-part harmony by renowned composer Melissa Dunphy.
March 3, 2024 Zeina read poems at the annual program, “Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here." This reading commemorates the bombing of the booksellers’ street in Baghdad in 2007. Busboys and Poets, Takoma Park, MD
March 2, 2024 Zeina organized the second annual “Multicultural Poetry Reading: Poems about the Moon,” Participants read poems in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic. Burke Branch Library, in conjunction with the Burke Branch Friends Alexandria, VA
February 28, 2024 Zeina traveled was the featured reader in poet Alex Best’s program, “Art Meets Humanity Dignity.” Richmond, VA
February 27 and March 1, 2024 Zeina led four poetry sessions on each day for students at George Washington Middle School Alexandria, VA
February 16, 2024 Zeina conducted a virtual class for the George Mason University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), titled “Poem with a Cause: Writing about What Is Meaningful to Us.”
February 7-10 Zeina attended the AWP conference, where she was a panelist on “How Food Invokes Poetry” with poets Kashiana Singh, Amy Baskin, Jen Karetnick, and Tresha Faye Haefner. She also read poetry at two side events. Kansas City, MO
February 5, 2024 Zeina was one of three panelists in a program (“Israel, Palestine, and the War in Gaza: History, Context, and Consequences”) where she spoke about poetry in Palestine and Gaza, including reading several poems Towson University, Towson, MD
February 4, 2024 Zeina did a virtual reading featuring her book, Some Things Never Leave You Event was hosted by artist Samar Hussaini, whose painting is the cover of Zeina’s book. The program was titled “Dear Palestine: A Literary Journey” The Gallery at Green Door Studio, New Jersey
January 21, 2024 Served as MC for, and read poetry at, “Poems for Palestine” event and open mic Busboys and Poets Brookland, Washington, DC
January 15 2024 Read a poem with remarks at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration Alexandria, VA
January 6, 2024 Read poetry at an interfaith event for Gaza, McLean Islamic Center McLean VA
December 30, 2023 Zeina participated in a collective online reading, a "Poetry Vigil for Palestine," in the program titled “In Water and Light.”
December 16, 2023 Zeina read her poems about jazz at the “Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest" Alexandria, VA
December 10, 2023 Zeina was the featured speaker at a holiday luncheon for the American Association of University Women Alexandria, VA
December 3, 2023 Zeina did a reading from her book, Some Things Never Leave You Hooray for Books bookstore, Alexandria, VA
October 15, 2023 Participated in a panel discussion and poetry reading organized by "1455 Literary Arts, A Place for Storytelling.” Panelists included the current poet laureate of Arlington, Courtney LeBlanc, and the emerita poets of Prince William County and Arlington County, Kim B. Miller and Holly Karapetkova, respectively.
October 14, 2023 1:00-3:00 p.m. "Poem with a Cause: Writing about What Is Meaningful to Us" Poetry workshop at the Durant Center, Alexandria, VA4:30-5:30 p.m.: MC’d the Haiku Project’s celebration of winners and other contest entrants whose haiku were part of the project’s final booklet.
6:30-8:30 p.m.: Read a poem at an exhibition opening at the new art gallery in Old Town Alexandria, The Loft Gallery. The poem was a part of the exhibition about the August 4, 2020, explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.
September 30, 2023 Poetry reading at the Burke Branch Public Library (Alexandria, VA) from Some Things Never Leave You.
September 16, 2023 Poetry reading at the Museum of the Palestinian People (Washington, DC) from Some Things Never Leave You, Zeina's new full-length poetry collection. The museum also celebrated Zeina Azzam as a new member of the Museum’s “Making Their Mark” wall that highlights Palestinian Americans who have made outstanding cultural contributions .
June 21, 2023 Zeina reads poetry at "The Longest Day" Yogathon to support the Alzheimer's Association PIES Fitness Yoga, Alexandria, VA
June 16, 2023 One of four poets at the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival, between sets of jazz bands, with poet Sami Miranda and youth poets from Alexandria City Public Schools Waterfront Park, Alexandria, VA
June 15, 2023 Featured speaker at the Loudoun County Libraries Rhyme On Poetry Contest Finale Sterling, VA
June 14, 2023 Poetry reading with Virginia Youth Poet Laureate Kashvi Ramani on "Virginia Voices," hosted by Cathy Hailey of the Poetry Society of Virginia (via Zoom)
June 13, 2023 One of the readers at "Voice as a Bridge," a multilingual poetry reading at the Arts Club of Washington Washington, DC
June 2, 2023 Read the original poem, "More Guns Than People," at the Moms Demand Action rally Market Square, Alexandria, VA
May 14, 2023 Featured poet at mother-daughter event on Mother's Day (poetry by Zeina and music by Lena Seikaly and Steve Herberman) Alexandria, VA
May 10, 2023 Zeina read two poems at the commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba on Capitol Hill Washington, DC
May 6, 2023 World premiere of Zeina's poem, "You Birth the Seeds," performed by the Alexandria Choral Society (poem set to four-part harmony by Melissa Dunphy) Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, VA
April 29, 2023 One of five featured poets in the "Poets in the World" event Poetry Society of Virginia (via Zoom)
April 27, 2023 Host of Poem in Your Pocket celebration for National Poetry Month The Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA
April 26, 2023 Featured speaker/reader at the Alexandria City Public Schools poetry contest ceremony Minnie Howard Campus, Alexandria, VA
April 24, 2023 Poetry reading with Zein El-Amine at Georgetown University's Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies Washington, DC
April 16, 2023 Featured poet at the Eastern Shore Writers Association (via Zoom)
April 15, 2023 Poetry reading with Danielle Badra (Fairfax Poet Laureate) and Rayan Afifi for Arab American Heritage Month Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, VA
April 11, 2023 Poetry reading at the Anera Iftar Patterson Mansion, Washington, DC
March 31, 2023 Zeina was one of the poets reading in theCityLit Baltimore Festival, “Unshuttered Poets: Poetry at the Center of History & Remembrance.” The main featured poet was Patricia Smith. Busboys and Poets Baltimore, MD
March 21, 2023 Zeina did a poetry reading and book signing. James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library Alexandria, VA
February 25, 2023 Zeina facilitated a poetry writing workshop titled "Narrative Poetry Inspired by the Art of Nicole Santiago." The Athenaeum Alexandria, VA
February 4, 2023 Zeina organized a multilingual poetry reading, in collaboration with Beatley Central Library, titled "A Multicultural Poetry Reading: Poems about the Moon." Community members read poems in the following languages: Spanish, French, Urdu, Hindi, Dari, Arabic, Greek, and Arabic. Beatley Central Library Alexandria, VA
December 1, 2022 "Seeking Palestine: Poems about Home and Diaspora"--Zeina was the featured poet at Vassar College at an event sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
November 13, 2022 "Conversations about Palestine" Zoom event hosted by National Arab American Women's Association. Panelists were Suad Amiry, Zeina Azzam, and Noura Erakat, and moderator was Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison.
October 29, 2022 Zeina Azzam facilitated a poetry writing workshop titled "Poetry Inspired by Visual Art." Principle Gallery Alexandria, VA
October 23, 2022 Zeina Azzam served as the keynote speaker at the Alexandria Public Library (Beatley Branch) for a writing contest awards ceremony, cosponsored with For Love of Country. The theme was "Why Vote?" Beatley Public Library Alexandria, VA
October 14, 2022 StoryFest Live (organized by 1455) Discussion by poets laureate Holly Karapetkova (Arlington County), Kim B. Miller (Prince William County), and Zeina Azzam (Alexandria) Above ALX Community Alexandria, VA
October 11, 2022 Poetry reading: Maya Abu Al-Hayyat, Zeina Azzam, Dani Badra, Zein El-Amine, Holly Mason Badra, Leeya Mehta Alan Cheuse International Writers Center, George Mason University Fairfax, VA
October 10, 2022 Reading by Palestinian Poet/Novelist Maya Abu Al-Hayyat (with Zeina Azzam reading her poetry in English and Zein El-Amine interviewing the author) BloomBars Washington, DC
September 24, 2022 Zeina Azzam read her original poem at the Soil Collection Ceremony, sponsored by the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project and the Equal Justice Initiative Market Square Alexandria, VA
September 16, 2022 Zeina Azzam served as discussant of the novel MOTHER OF STRANGERS with author Suad Amiry Busboys and Poets Washington, DC
October 6, 2024 Did a reading for the UNRWA USAfundraiser for Gaza.
October 7 and 8, 2024 Spent two full days at Alexandria High School’s International Academy to work with six classes of seniors on poetry, with a focus on metaphor and simile.