Who Are We?
We've Got Something To Say (2023) is a poetry platform and community collective that works to promote mental health and well-being through the art of poetry and spoken word by creating safe spaces for voices to be heard.
Our work is grounded in the (CIPPM) Community-Integrated Poetry and Psychoeducation Model, an original framework that blends creative expression with mental health education to support individual growth and community well-being. Sawyer, S. (2026). Community-Integrated Poetry & Pychoeducation Model. We've Got Something To Say.
What Do We Do?
Each event feeds back into community life.
We provide a platform for Poets, Writers and Lovers of the art to share their stories and their art. Our program aims to bridge the gap between experience and meaning by facilitating mental health Q&A discussions with Professionals in the community, providing food service, mental health games, free wellness raffle gifts, and live music for an unforgettable wholistic experience.
Where Are We Located?
We’ve Got Something To Say (W.G.S.T.S) is based in downtown Bridgeport, CT. Soon to be in a city near you!
When Were We Born?
In January of 2023, a new interdisciplinary approach would debut to help individuals cope with everyday mental health and well-being. (W.G.S.T.S) sold out their first 3 intimate, poetry events with 30 people, in what used to be a small cigar lounge at the award-winning restaurant, 29 Markle Ct.
Why Do We Do This?
The aim of (W.G.S.T.S) is to reinforce ongoing expression, community engagement, and collective healing beyond the space alone.
We aid in confidence building, self expression, and provide skills and resources that allow attendees to become conscious of ways gain clarity from adverse experiences. We want our attendees to be exposed to person centered resources that help combat negative affects of life stressors that disrupt one's mental health and well-being through he portal creativity.
There is no right or wrong way to feel or heal and we are a support along the way. We aim to be real, not perfect, reminding ourselves and attendees that we are on this journey of personal growth collectively. We aim to make growth and healing colorful and empowering where attendees can experience what it means to just be simply…human.
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ COMMUNITY ROOT
│ Belonging, Identity, Well-being & Safety
└───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. COMMUNITY OPENING SPACE
│ Emotional check-in • Icebreaking activities • Anticipation
│ → Grounding & connection
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. PSYCHOEDUCATION SPACE
│ MSW + Mental Health Professionals
│ Mental health topics & tools
│ → Awareness & understanding
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. CREATIVE EXPRESSION SPACE (OPEN MIC)
│ Spoken word • Poetry • Storytelling
│ → Emotional release & voice activation, Community Empowerment
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. FEATURED EXPRESSION SPACE
│ Guest poets / Performers
│ → Deepened reflection & resonance
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 5. REFLECTION & INTEGRATION SPACE
│ Reflection Through Farm to Table Cuisine • Meaning-making
│ → Processing, insight, Support Nueroplasticity
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 6. COLLECTIVE HEALING SPACE
│ Wellness raffle • Closing Care ritual and affirmation
│ → Restoration & continued healing
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
(Return to Continuous COMMUNITY healing)
Sawyer, S. (2026). Community-Integrated Poetry & Pychoeducation Model. We've Got Something To Say.
