SEASON 38 | january 2026
An every.Word Poetry MLK Day Open Mic Hosted by Ebony Stewart
Monday, January 19th, 2026
8:00-10:00 PM
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This open mic centers Black poets while welcoming musicians and allies. The evening celebrates freedom of speech, resistance through art, and the collective power of community storytelling inside The VORTEX’s historic Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage, located in Six Square – Austin’s Black Cultural District.
About Ebony Stewart: Ebony Stewart, most affectionately known as Eb or Gully, is an author and international touring interdisciplinary artivist. As a Black womxn writer and performance artist, Ebony Stewart harnesses the power of creativity to explore and challenge societal norms, personal identity, and the intersectionality of her experiences. With a spellbinding blend of storytelling, verbal fitness, and raw emotion, she captivates audiences, inviting them into a world where vulnerability becomes strength and authenticity reigns supreme.
She is the author of BloodFresh, Home.Girl.Hood., and Love Letters to Balled Fists. Her work has been featured in Button Poetry, AfroPunk, For Harriet, Teen Vogue, The Texas Observer, Houston Public Media, The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic, 2021 Colorism Healing Writing Contest, Write About Now Poetry, plus countless others. Her voice-over work in commercials and films such as, Red Wing, Gulf Coast Love Story, and Black Girls: A Never Whisper Justice documentary has earned her recognition as a skilled and versatile artist.
Drawing from her own lived experiences as a woman of color, Ebony delves fearlessly into themes of race, gender, and social justice, using her art as a platform for empowerment and change. Through her poetry, she confronts uncomfortable truths, amplifies marginalized voices, and celebrates the resilience of Black womanhood.
Ebony is also a mental health advocate, consultant, and former sexual health educator who is seen in the community as the hood’s favorite mental health specialist.
As one of the most decorated poets in Texas, Ebony is a respected coach & mentor, one of the top touring poets in the country, and the 2017 Woman of the World Poetry Slam Champion. She has shared stages with many prestigious figures in the artist world such as, the late-Amiri Baraka, Carmen Carerra, Marsha Ambrosius, Patricia Smith, Rudy Francisco, Ariana Brown, Lupe Mendez, and so many more. She has performed in 49 states, at over 200 colleges and universities across the country, as has featured internationally in Canada, Australia, Ghana, and Norway.
As a playwright, Ebony’s one woman shows, Hunger and Ocean, received their world premieres at The VORTEX and received B. Iden Payne Awards & the David Mark Cohen New Play Award. Her work transcends boundaries, seamlessly blending elements of theater, spoken word, and visual art to create immersive experiences that challenge, provoke, and inspire. From intimate solo pieces to
collaborative multimedia projects, Ebony Stewart fearlessly navigates the complexities of the human experience, inviting audiences to engage in dialogue and reflection long after the curtains fall.
With a unique voice and an unwavering commitment to originality, Ebony Stewart continues to push the boundaries of performance art, using her platform to uplift, educate, and ignite meaningful change in the world.
Ebony Stewart is supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, the City of Austin Economic Development Department, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, The Shubert Foundation, and ATX Theatre. Managing Director, Melissa McKnight. Producing Artistic Director, Bonnie Cullum.
The Poet House Mission: The Poet House cultivates a care centered community of spoken word poets by uplifting the marginalized and building spaces where art is a catalyst for change.
About every.Word Poetry: every.Word Poetry is led by Artistic Director Jasmine Games, an award-winning Black, queer poet, theatre maker, and educator, alongside Executive Director and Co-Founder Michael Hatcher, a nationally recognized slam poet, author, and cultural organizer. Together, they steward a dynamic spoken word platform rooted in care, access, and cultural liberation. A flagship program of The Poet House, every.Word Poetry produces weekly and seasonal performance spaces including the Monday Night Open Mic at The VORTEX, curated showcases, full stage productions, and writing workshops. The program centers Black poets, poets of color, queer and trans poets, youth, and poets with disabilities while welcoming allies into a values-aligned creative community.
www.thepoethouse.org