NORAZ Poets
Encyclopedia
NORAZ Poets is a nonprofit poetry
organization based in Northern Arizona now aimed at youth and senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer's disease
.
It was founded in Sedona, Arizona
in 2003 by poet Christopher Lane, who serves as the organization's executive director. The group is run by a seven-member advisory board.
The group ran weekly poetry open mics, biweekly and monthly poetry slams, poetry workshops, featured poetry readings, poet in residence
programs in Northern Arizona high schools, maintained a Web site with a calendar of events and several book partnerships, which sold local poets' work in Northern Arizona bookstores. The group networked two poetry slams: FlagSlam in Flagstaff
and VerdeSlam Sedona, Arizona
and has a reputation in the national slam poetry scene for treating touring poets with great respect, with booking events, transportation to and from performances and venues, and lodging at the homes of members of the local poetry community.
Poetry organizers in Northern Arizona had sent slams teams to the National Poetry Slam since 2001, officially representing Flagstaff
, although the team's members were from various parts of the region. Between early 2004 and mid-2007, the team competed in local, regional and national poetry slams under the banner "Team NORAZ".
NORAZ Poets is one of the only rural and regional poetry organizations in the United States
.
The organization earned nonprofit tax status in February 2005.
In March 2005, NORAZ Poets created the Alzheimer's Poetry Project Arizona Assignment (a branch of the national Alzheimer's Poetry Project).
Some of the poets affiliated with the group include Robin John Anderson, Jordan Sebastian Bonner, Mary Carvell Bragg, Rochelle Brener, Portlin Cochise, Rebekah Crisp, Patrick David DuHaime, Gary Every, Josh Fleming, Dom Flemons, Nick Fox, Karyl Goldsmith, Jesse Dyllan Grace, Christopher Fox Graham, Andy "War" Hall, Dee Hamilton, Brent Heffron, Mary Heyborne, Cass J. Hodges, Aaron Johnson, Jarrod Masseud Karimi, Erik John Karpf, Suzy La Follette, Christopher Lane, Eric Larson, David "Doc" Luben, William Mawhinney, Douglas McDaniel, Karen Guevara, Logan Phillips, John Reid, Betteanne Rutten, David Ward and Mikel Weisser.
In mid-2007, NORAZ Poets effectively ceased its poetry slam activities. Flagstaff area poetry slam events were then taken up by FlagSlam, led by Ryan Brown, John Cartier, and Frank O'Brien. Sedona and Verde Valley area poetry slam events were then taken up by Gary Every and Christopher Fox Graham.
NORAZ Poets uses its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit umbrella for the Young Voices Be Heard and Alzheimer's
Poetry Project Arizona Assignment Projects.
at the 11th National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Washington
:
In 2002, as Team Flagstaff
at the 12th National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, Minnesota
:
In 2003, as Team Flagstaff
at the 13th National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Illinois:
.
In 2005: as Team NORAZ at the 15th National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
In 2006: as Team NORAZ at the 16th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas
.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
organization based in Northern Arizona now aimed at youth and senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
It was founded in Sedona, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in 2003 by poet Christopher Lane, who serves as the organization's executive director. The group is run by a seven-member advisory board.
The group ran weekly poetry open mics, biweekly and monthly poetry slams, poetry workshops, featured poetry readings, poet in residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
programs in Northern Arizona high schools, maintained a Web site with a calendar of events and several book partnerships, which sold local poets' work in Northern Arizona bookstores. The group networked two poetry slams: FlagSlam in Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
and VerdeSlam Sedona, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and has a reputation in the national slam poetry scene for treating touring poets with great respect, with booking events, transportation to and from performances and venues, and lodging at the homes of members of the local poetry community.
Poetry organizers in Northern Arizona had sent slams teams to the National Poetry Slam since 2001, officially representing Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, although the team's members were from various parts of the region. Between early 2004 and mid-2007, the team competed in local, regional and national poetry slams under the banner "Team NORAZ".
NORAZ Poets is one of the only rural and regional poetry organizations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The organization earned nonprofit tax status in February 2005.
In March 2005, NORAZ Poets created the Alzheimer's Poetry Project Arizona Assignment (a branch of the national Alzheimer's Poetry Project).
Some of the poets affiliated with the group include Robin John Anderson, Jordan Sebastian Bonner, Mary Carvell Bragg, Rochelle Brener, Portlin Cochise, Rebekah Crisp, Patrick David DuHaime, Gary Every, Josh Fleming, Dom Flemons, Nick Fox, Karyl Goldsmith, Jesse Dyllan Grace, Christopher Fox Graham, Andy "War" Hall, Dee Hamilton, Brent Heffron, Mary Heyborne, Cass J. Hodges, Aaron Johnson, Jarrod Masseud Karimi, Erik John Karpf, Suzy La Follette, Christopher Lane, Eric Larson, David "Doc" Luben, William Mawhinney, Douglas McDaniel, Karen Guevara, Logan Phillips, John Reid, Betteanne Rutten, David Ward and Mikel Weisser.
In mid-2007, NORAZ Poets effectively ceased its poetry slam activities. Flagstaff area poetry slam events were then taken up by FlagSlam, led by Ryan Brown, John Cartier, and Frank O'Brien. Sedona and Verde Valley area poetry slam events were then taken up by Gary Every and Christopher Fox Graham.
NORAZ Poets uses its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit umbrella for the Young Voices Be Heard and Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
Poetry Project Arizona Assignment Projects.
Flagstaff National Poetry Slam Teams
In 2001, as Team FlagstaffFlagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
at the 11th National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
:
- Grand Slam Champion: Josh Fleming
- Nick Fox
- Christopher LaneChristopher LaneChristopher Lane is an author whose books include the Inupiat Eskimo Mystery series.-Inupiat Eskimo Mystery series:* Elements Of A Kill * Season Of Death * A Shroud Of Midnight Sun * Silent As A Hunter...
- Christopher Fox Graham
- Alternate: A-rek Matthew Dye
- Coach: Andy "War" Wall
In 2002, as Team Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
at the 12th National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
:
- Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
- Logan Phillips
- Andy "War" Hall
- Dom Flemons
- Alternate: Jarrod Masseud Karimi (but left the team before the National Poetry Slam)
- Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow
In 2003, as Team Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
at the 13th National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Illinois:
- Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
- Logan Phillips
- Cass Hodges
- Dom Flemons
- Alternate: Julie Hudgens (but left the team before the National Poetry Slam)
- Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow
National Poetry Slam Teams represented by NORAZ Poets
In 2004: as Team NORAZ at the 14th National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
- Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
- Eric Larson
- Logan Phillips
- Brent Heffron
- Coaches: Mary Guaraldi, Christopher Lane and John Raymond Kofonow
In 2005: as Team NORAZ at the 15th National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.
- Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Lane
- Logan Phillips
- Christopher Fox Graham
- Meghan Jones
- Aaron Johnson
- Coaches: Mary Guaraldi and John Raymond Kofonow
In 2006: as Team NORAZ at the 16th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
- Aaron Johnson
- Christopher Fox Graham
- Meghan Jones
- Al Moyer
- Justin "Biskit" Powell
- Coaches: Greg Nix and John Raymond Kofonow