A Poetry Clinic participant contributing while Wesley holds the group writing

Work + results

Proof from the room.

Real settings, real participant reflections, and collective poems created through the Poetry Clinic.

The work begins in the room

A prompt becomes a line. A line becomes something the group can carry together.

These photographs, poems, and reflections show the work at its most concrete: people listening, writing, choosing what to share, and seeing their words become part of a collective piece.

What the room makes together could not have come from any one person alone.

Inside the Poetry Clinic

Wesley Robinson facilitating a Poetry Clinic for a seated audience — Facilitated reflection

Poetry Clinic participants gathered around a collective poem — Shared creation

Poetry Clinic participants gathered around tables while Wesley facilitates — A room in conversation

Wesley Robinson guiding a collective poem with participants — A poem taking shape

Wesley Robinson receiving written reflections from a Poetry Clinic participant — Words shared in the room

A handwritten collective poem and session themes displayed on easel pads — What the room made

A collection of framed GMTD poems — Work carried forward

Participants seated in a Poetry Clinic group discussion — Reflection in community

The work people made

The room leaves words behind.

These collective poems and whiteboard artifacts were part of the former GMTD portfolio. They show the themes real groups chose to name together.

Handwritten collective poem titled I Got Your Back and the human in ME on a whiteboard — I Got Your Back / the human in ME
Cleveland Division of Police Poetry Clinic

Printed collective poem titled Built to Last — Built to Last
GMTD collective poem, March 2024

Printed collective poem titled Our City As We See It — Our City As We See It
GMTD and Team 216 of Fairfax Recreation Center

Printed collective poem titled The Grief Poem — The Grief Poem
New Visions Unlimited Counseling Center and GMTD, 2025

Participant reflections

In their words.

Names removed by request

We were all able to learn and speak as one, and I learned how to work and communicate with others better.
Poetry Clinic participant

It left a lasting positive feeling. Being heard through writing is something I have started to use as an everyday tactic.
Poetry Clinic participant

It helped bring the group closer, in my eyes, and it helped put words to some feelings.
Poetry Clinic participant

My experience was very beneficial. It helped stimulate my mind and helped with collaboration in a team setting. I recommend it to more than just one group.
Poetry Clinic participant

What stays with the room

Wesley turns the room's thoughts into a finished poem.

Participants may write privately or offer thoughts, themes, words, and phrases. Private notes are not collected as individual deliverables.

Wesley selects, edits, arranges, and writes the final collective poem. GMTD owns the final poem and all rights in that final work.

GMTD may publish, display, adapt, license, sell, distribute, or reuse a final collective poem without additional participant permission. Identifying names, photos, audio, and video are handled separately.

Start the conversation

See what this could look like for your team.

We will listen, learn what you are planning, and talk through what a Poetry Clinic could look like for your people.

Start the Conversation