When Miyana Sarver first entered Peter Street Station, an art gallery and event space in downtown Atlanta, in 2021, she was blown away by the floor-to-ceiling bookcases and artful decor. And though the prospect of curating a show there in only a month was daunting, Sarver knew she had found something special and was determined to pull it off.
Now, four years later, the 31-year-old writer and event planner is the founder of Poetry on Peter, one of Atlanta’s premier art events for young Black creatives. Poetry on Peter, held twice monthly, combines music, poetry, and community to create an atmosphere where hope flourishes.
“Hope. Inspiration. People always talk about how the community needs a certain type of activism,” Sarver, a Louisville, Kentucky, native, says. “But people have forgotten that what gets people there first is inspiration, and them believing in themselves. Seeing your peers make their ideas reality will make you want to try your own ideas.”
At the often sold-out shows, audiences can expect to hear pieces that encompass the vastness of Black life and identity, from reflections on Black love and heartbreak to mental health and how the climate crisis impacts marginalized communities. Popular Black artists, including rapper FOGGIERAW and poet Papadook, have graced the Poetry on Peter stage. And the night’s host always makes sure to lead the audience in cheering for each performer — an act of encouragement and community celebration.
In an exclusive conversation with Word In Black’s digital editor Nadira Jamerson, Sarver discusses her journey of becoming a community “gatherer” through Poetry on Peter, and how other young Black folks can create spaces of resistance and hope in their cities.
