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The 2008 Jackson Heights Poetry Festival was a great success. Hundreds of people from Jackson Heights and the greater New York area came out to celebrate poetry and community.

Workshops, a panel discussion, a poetry slam and open mic, and a daylong outdoor festival were all held with a stunning level of participation and excitement.

The Awards Ceremony for the 2008 Jackson Heights Poetry Festival Student Contest was held during the day-long festival, with laptops awarded to the first prize winners. The day also included readings by professional poets, readings by the student winners of the poetry contest, culturally themed games for kids, and musical performances by El Jezel and Bianco.

Participating poets included:

Ishle Yi Park, Patrick Rosal, Jai Chakrabarti, Bill Zavatsky, Samantha Thornhill, Lee Schlesinger, Richard Marotta, and Michael Dumanis. (Read more about the 2008 poets!)