ALTOONA, Pa. — Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, professor of English at Penn State Altoona, has been invited as a featured poet at the 2024 Furious Flower Poetry Conference, to be held at James Madison University from Sept. 18 to 21.

The conference occurs every 10 years, celebrating and bringing together Black poets to engage in conversations about their craft, read from their works, and dialogue about Black poetry in the world. As a featured poet, Jabbeh Wesley will read from her works, participate on a panel celebrating the history of the African Poetry Book Series, and engage with other poets.

Jabbeh Wesley said she has dreamed of participating in the festival and is thrilled to attend.

“To be invited as a featured poet to engage with the most important Black poets and writers is an honor,” Jabbeh Wesley said.