Sidewalk Poetry is a systems-based work that allows city residents to claim the sidewalks as their book pages. This project re-imagines Saint Paul’s annual sidewalk maintenance program with Public Works, as the department repairs 10 miles of sidewalk each year. We have stamped more than 1,200 poems from a collection that now includes 73 individual pieces all written by Saint Paul residents. Today, everyone in Saint Paul now lives within a 10-minute walk of a Sidewalk Poem.
This art project began with previous Public Art Saint Paul City Artist Marcus Young in 2008 under the name “Everyday Poems for City Sidewalks,” and continues today with evolved stamping approaches, as well as poetry submission and review processes. Our 2026 Sidewalk Poetry accepts poetry submissions in Dakota, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, Karen, and English. The poetry on our streets celebrates the remarkable cultures that make our City home and that makes our City strong. With this as a beginning, other languages may be added in years to come.
Theme of the 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest:
The 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest is water.
2026 POETRY WORKSHOP
Kickoff Workshop + Info Session
Looking for inspiration or guidance before you submit? Join us on May 9, from 1–4 PM, for an engaging Info Session and Poetry Workshop hosted by the Capitol Region Watershed District and led by Kevin Yang. It’s a chance to explore ideas, connect with others, and deepen your approach to this year’s theme.
Kevin Yang is a Hmong American spoken word artist and documentary filmmaker from the Twin Cities. Kevin works at Twin Cities PBS as an Education Engagement Specialist, where he connects educators with media resources. Kevin represented Minnesota at the Brave New Voices Spoken Word Festival in 2011 and represented Hamline University at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational in 2012 and 2014. Kevin’s work has been published on platforms such as Button Poetry and in the anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World, Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura, Editors (University of Minnesota Press, 2021).
2026 SIDEWALK POETRY JURORS
Marian Hassan – Marian is an empowering educator and children’s picture book author. Marian’s work is all about children, and books, and about reading and writing, and talking. As an educator, Marian advises, mentors and trains lots of folks about areas in early childhood education, family literacy, program development, evaluation, coaching. Lately, she has been speaking to dual language families and teachers about the importance of the home language to the development of the second language. As a writer, her love of literature began at an early age listening to relatives tell Somali tales, a natural backdrop of the rich oral culture of her native Somalia. She is the editor of a recently published anthology, Crossroads, An Anthology of Resilience and Hope by Young Somali Writers; and the author of the soon to be published the ABC’s of Peace, A Somali Lullaby, Bright Star Blue Sky and Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale. Marian earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University in Canada in English Literature and Mass Communication and has done graduate work in Elementary Education as well as a K-8 teacher licensure with specialty in Language Arts at St. Thomas University.
June Nin Way, MSW, LICSW/LADC – June is a former refugee from Thailand who relocated to the United States in 2013 and earned her Master of Social Work from the University of St. Thomas in 2023. She has served diverse communities in roles including interpreter, school liaison, direct support practitioner, and now as a mental health and recovery clinician. Multilingual in Karen, Burmese, and English, she is deeply committed to supporting refugee communities and serves as a board member for a nonprofit dedicated to this work. In her free time, June enjoys spending time with family, attending cultural events, and writing spoken word poetry.
An emerging writer, June uses spoken word poetry to explore her own identity, resilience, and community healing, and is drawn to work that centers authentic voice, cultural memory, and emotional depth—bringing both lived experience and artistic sensitivity to her role as a juror.
Šišókaduta – Šišókaduta (Joe Bendickson) is a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota language teacher and revitalizer based in Minnesota. He teaches at the University of Minnesota, focusing on preserving the Dakota language for future generations. His name, Šišókadúta, translates to “Robin Red”
Teresa Ortiz
Youa Vang – Youa has a background in music journalism and music business. She lives in St. Paul and has written for many publications in the Twin Cities area.
2026 SIDEWALK PARTNER
The 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest is made possible through the generous support of the Capitol Region Watershed District.
