Live Group Portrait Poems

NaMee brings the voices of many into a single poem, capturing the essence of your group.

This is most often done at live events, but has also been /can be done using a variety of alternative source material (e.g. emails, surveys, listening to an audio recording of a meeting, etc).

Here’s how it works:

  • 1

    Attending key meetings and organization gatherings live alongside staff, NaMee engages in deep listening, observation, and word collecting.

    (Alternatives to attending live have included “harvesting words” from a variety of printed or digital source materials.)

  • 2

    NaMee composes a group portrait poem - a Found poem using phrases that represent the spirit of the group. The portrait aims to reflect back the participants, synthesize organization values, and inspire the group's next steps.

  • 3

    NaMee performs the final poem live at a gathering of your choice. Typically, this is done during the closing events as a parting gift to the participants.

    A final copy of the poem is also provided.

What people are saying.

  • "The brilliant crafting of this work and the delivery of her poetry was breathtaking.  Every woman at the gathering was visibly moved and honestly just plain blown away by the eloquence of her spoken-word performance as she reflected our words back to us in extraordinary poetic form. She made us laugh, brought tears to our eyes, and created a meaningful and unforgettable moment for us all.  I would bring her back again and again and again." 

    — Cinny Kennard, Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation

  • "I have met many poets and consider myself one as well – but I’ve never met a poet like Na Mee. She is engaging and engaged. She observes and adds to every room simultaneously. She collects ideas, moments, subtext and dreams in passing. Her work is sharp, and real. At times deeply funny and at other times it will stop your breath with its force. I am a deep and abiding fan of the poems and the poet."

    — Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation

  • "NaMee joined our group and was a quiet, calming presence amongst us. Then, magically, she created a magnificent poem, which she presented in a spoken word performance, using only our words. She not only reflected back to us a mirror of ourselves, individually and collectively, but she also elevated and transformed our experience into something lyrical, transcendent and enduring. She is an incredibly talented and deep artist, and she added so much to our gathering. "

    — Lisa Eisen, Co-President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

  • "Na Mee truly captured the spirit of the fellowship in their poem. Not only the spirit but the collective drive, determination, beauty and love that we all felt over the course of the program and virtual summit. SO beautiful and uplifting. Exactly what the doctor ordered."

    — Leila Hamdan, Collections Manager and Archivist at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Want to think about this out loud?

Let’s be brainstorm buddies! Exploratory calls are always free; let’s set one up and chat about a portrait poem to capture your group.