Wild Indigo Returns with Philly August
It’s been a long time or so it seems … but Wild Indigo is back! with 5 POETS: Allison Whittenberg, Lorraine Rice, Mary Mance, Pheralyn Dove, and Victoria Huggins Peurifoy. We hope you come through to support them on Sunday August 17 at our regular 5pm time at at Young American Cider! Bios of our incredible features below!
We have a new link to get your tickets (suggested donation of only $5) here at https://bit.ly/25wildindigo26
If you read your last newsletter, you know we have also recently received good news! We received grants from the Environment Committee of Weaver’s Way Co-Op and the Tommy Raskin Memorial Fund to extend our program. We are so grateful for their support! One project will allow us to gift to our community bookmarks with embedded wildflower/pollinator seeds that also have lines of poetry. But what should we get put on them? If you have an idea, fill out this form by August 18!
And who is coming up for the fall? So far some of our fall poets include Tongo Eisen Martin, Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, Tim Seibles, Iain Pollock, and Trapeta Mayson … and we have more already committed. Full announcement coming out at Philly August with Wild Indigo on August 17!
As always, we hope you continue to connect with the work of Reclaim Philadelphia and patronize Young American Cider!
This month’s features, reading for shorter sets (and there will also be a small open mic):
Allison Whittenberg's poetry collection is titled THEY WERE HORRIBLE COOKS.Her work has appeared in Columbia Review, Feminist Studies,J Journal,Obsidian, and New Orleans Review. Whittenberg is anine-time Pushcart Prize nominee and is a Philly native.
Lorraine Rice is a writer, mother, and professional support person doing the best she can in this broken and beautiful world. She is the recipient of fellowships from Cave Canem and Kimbilio. Her work has appeared in the anthology Permanent Record: Poetics Towards the Archive (Nightboat Books), American Poetry Review, swamp pink, Philadelphia Stories, and elsewhere. She is currently working on her first full-length collection, a docupoetics project that centers genealogical and historical research tied to her southern roots. Originally from South Carolina, Lorraine lives and learns with her family in Philadelphia.
Mary Mance is a Philadelphia-based spoken word poet whose work blends vulnerability, rhythm, and truth. Originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, she began writing as a child, inspired by her mother’s poetic voice and a desire to give life to her experiences. Her poetry explores identity, survival, joy, and justice with authenticity and emotional depth.She has performed at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C., Voices in Power in Philadelphia, and Poetry Me, Please in New York City, as well as civic events like the Philly Justice Ball and Access to Justice Awards.Beyond the stage, Mary uses poetry for healing, storytelling, and community-building, creating space for voices often overlooked. Her performances—whether before a packed crowd or in an intimate setting—are marked by emotional honesty and lyrical strength, reflecting her mission to turn lived experience into living language.
Pheralyn Dove is an award-winning poet. She is also a visual artist, author, essayist, and gratitude coach. She has presented her work on four continents: Africa, Europe, South America, and North America. Pheralyn lives her life in a state of perpetual gratitude. She is guided by her passion to create art that promotes cultural preservation, emotional healing, and African liberation throughout the Diaspora. She envisions and works toward freedom for all oppressed peoples.~. ~. ~. ~. ~. www.pheralyndove.compheralyn@gmail.com@pheralyn/Instagram@pheralyndove/Tiktok@Pheralyn Dove/Facebook
Victoria Huggins Peurifoy is a Community Engagement Liaison for Drexel University’s Writers Room, for their Second Story collective Program. She is working to bring together senior citizen homeowners in West Philly and Drexel Students to promote intergenerational living. She is also an AmeriCorps Senior conducting research and working with photography and writing. She is a writer in residence with Drexel’s Writers Room and a member of their Tripod team. She is an author, poet, spoken-word artist, storyteller, narrator, facilitator, workshop leader and voice-over talent. In 2023, she graduated as a senior citizen student from Peirce College and received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. A grant from Stockton Bartol was awarded tp Victoria for the Micro-Teaching Artist award for Spring 2025. Victoria released her latest book, The Triumph Continues – A Covid Story & Poetry, found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites. Her work can also be found in the anthologies of writers room Drexelfor Anthology 11, which was just released in June 2025.