Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers to Lead Workshop & Perform at GISH

GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — Grand Island Senior High (GISH) is proud to announce that Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers will visit Senior High on Monday, April 27th, for a full day dedicated to the power of the written and spoken word. 

The visit kicks off with an immersive student poetry workshop that afternoon.  Rodgers will mentor students in the craft of poetry, sharing her unique insights into creative expression and the importance of finding one’s authentic voice. This opportunity allows local students to engage directly with one of the state's most celebrated literary figures, empowering GISH students to connect with contemporary poetry.

The celebration of Nebraska’s poetry heritage continues into the evening with a public poetry reading and open mic night hosted by Rodgers in the GISH Little Theatre (details below). 

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the event will feature Rodgers performing selections from her acclaimed body of work, followed by an open mic session where students and community members are invited to share their own poetry. 

The evening event is free and open to the public, providing a collaborative space for Grand Island residents to connect through the transformative power of storytelling and verse alongside a premier voice in American poetry. 

Bringing Nebraska’s State Poet has been a dream collaboration for Mrs. Elizabeth Butters, GISH English Teacher & Poetry Club Sponsor.  Seeing the opportunities this will bring to her students brings a sense of pride and excitement. 

“I am excited for both students and the community to experience the poetry of Jewel Rodgers! She is an amazing poet and performer.” Mrs. Butters shared. “Jewel brings her poetry to life in a way that is relatable and engaging, helping the audience connect to her poetry. This is truly an opportunity no one should miss. Experiences like this are especially valuable for students. Poetry builds confidence, encourages self-expression, and gives students a voice. Events like this remind us that poetry isn’t just something to study, but something to enjoy and share.” 

ABOUT JEWEL RODGERS:
Jewel Rodgers has been a spoken word poet for more than a decade, performing in schools, festivals, community settings, conferences, public events, and other venues. She has written and performed for the City of Omaha, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), the University of Nebraska–Omaha (UNO), and, upon request, for public officials such as Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Congressman Don Bacon, and Governor Jim Pillen.

Rodgers is an Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award winner for Best Performance Poet in Omaha and a three-time TEDx speaker. She has received numerous accolades, including being a 2022 Union for Contemporary Art Fellow, a 2023 Andy Warhol Populus Fund Grantee, a 2024 finalist in the Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam, and a 2025 AIRIE Fellow. Some of her works include Impossible Ain’t Nothin’, Resilience, and They Love You.

In her letter of consideration, Rodgers expressed her desire to use her role as State Poet to make poetry accessible and relevant to all Nebraskans through spoken word. She outlined three key initiatives: education through poetry, increasing access to diverse communities, and nurturing more Nebraska writers.

EVENT DETAILS:
Homegrown Poetry Reading & Open Mic with Jewel Rodgers, Nebraska State Poet
Date:  Monday, April 27th, 2026
Time:  6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Place:  GISH Little Theatre
Admission:  Free