Our Story
A community built one voice at a time.
Every creative community starts with a simple question:
What happens when people come together and share their words?
For us, that journey began in 1997 with the Redmond Association of SPokenword (RASP)—a passionate gathering founded on a simple belief: stories matter, voices deserve to be heard, and creativity grows stronger when shared.
For nearly three decades, RASP welcomed poets, storytellers, spoken word artists, and curious beginners into a space where craft could flourish through thoughtful feedback and genuine connection.
What started as a local gathering gradually became something far greater:
A mic where first-time readers found their courage.
A sanctuary where writers found steady encouragement.
A catalyst where strangers became collaborators.
A home where unfinished drafts became shared experiences.
Over the years, our community grew not simply because people came to read—but because they came to belong.
The Journey So Far
Our story has been written one poem, one conversation, and one gathering at a time.
Along the way, we've been fortunate to create experiences that celebrate creativity, strengthen community, and amplify local voices.
📖 Community Anthology
120 Poems. 70 Local Voices. One Shared Collection.
Here, There, and Everywhere brought together 120 poems from 70 writers
who graced the RASP stage as open-mic and featured readers.
Capturing the creative energy of the Pacific Northwest
across three vibrant sections—here, there, and everywhere—
the book celebrates the full breadth of our regional writing community.
Celebrated into existence on August 23, 2013,
at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse with live music by Monica Schley,
this anthology stands as an important milestone
in the evolution of what is now the Poetry & Prose Network.
Explore:
View photos from the anthology launch
🌳 Poets in the Park
At Anderson Park, more than one hundred people gathered under the open sky for a day of readings, workshops, and community dialogue with writers from across the region. Poets in the Park transformed
a public space into an inclusive sanctuary for creativity—showing seasoned authors, first-time readers, and neighborhood families that poetry belongs everywhere people come together.
🎤 Eastside Writers at Hugo House
Crossing the lake to bring Eastside creators to one of Seattle’s flagship literary centers was a major landmark. With over 85 attendees joining us for an unforgettable evening, the event proved that dynamic, high-caliber literary communities flourish on both sides of the water.
Explore:
Featured Along the Way
Over the years, our community has been featured in articles, interviews, event coverage, and community partnerships that helped share our story with a wider audience.
(Articles, interviews, and media highlights.)
Listening. Growing. Becoming.
Each milestone revealed a deeper truth:
People weren’t just looking for a stage—they were looking for a place to belong.
As our community grew, we listened. Through surveys, conversations, and quiet moments with writers, volunteers, and neighbors, we heard the same message loud and clear:
More room to learn.
Deeper ways to connect.
Safer spaces to grow.
More ways to participate—whether stepping up to the microphone or putting pen to paper for the very first time.
We also recognized that our community had expanded beyond a single city. While Redmond remains our foundational home, our writers and audiences now span the entire Eastside and beyond.
Our name needed to reflect not just where our story began, but who we have become together.
The Next Chapter
Poetry & Prose Network (PPN) is the next evolution of our story—a vibrant creative home for poets, prose writers, storytellers, spoken word artists, and curious beginners.
A place where we gather to:
Write. Connect. Transform.
Our name honors the spirit of our long-running Poetry & Prose Circle, where local writers first came together to encourage one another and exchange ideas.
That legacy continues today through PPN Feedback Loop—a safe, supportive space where writers share works-in-progress, receive constructive critique, and discover the hidden potential waiting inside every draft.
The Creative Circuit
At PPN, creativity isn't a static destination—it’s a living practice.
Learn ──► Write ──► Share ──► Reflect ──► Refine ──► Repeat
Every workshop sparks a new idea.
Every draft grows stronger through feedback.
Every performance builds lasting confidence.
Every conversation inspires the next page.
Every loop through the circuit strengthens not only the individual writer, but the entire community around them.
The Story Is Still Being Written
This next chapter doesn't belong to a board or an organization—it belongs to everyone who walks through the door.
It is built:
With every poem shared and story told.
With every conversation started and friendship formed.
With every idea sparked and voice amplified.
Because true communities aren't built by institutions alone—they are built by people.
And we’re just getting started.
