Ball & Socket Arts is thrilled to announce the return of Poetry Night to Live @ the Factory 2025 with headliners: Luisa Caycedo-Kimura and Michael “Chief” Peterson.
We’ll kick things off with readings from these incredible poets, followed by an Open Mic where all are welcome to share a poem.
Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic dinner from one of our local restaurants for an evening of literary delights. A big thank you to Pat Mottola, Cheshire’s own Poet Laureate, for all her help planning this event.
Grab your spot and start your picnic at 5:30.
Readings start at 6 pm, Open Mic to follow. Bring a poem to share!
This event is produced by Ball & Socket Arts with support from our Literary Subcommittee.
About The Speakers:
Luisa Caycedo-Kimura is a Colombian-born writer, educator, and author of the full-length poetry collection All Were Limones (The Word Works), winner of the Hillary Tham Capital Collection competition. Other honors include a Connecticut Office of the Arts Emerging Recognition Award, a John K. Walsh Residency Fellowship at the Anderson Center, an Adrienne Reiner Hochstadt Fellowship at Ragdale, and a Robert Pinsky Global Fellowship in Poetry. A three-time Pushcart Prize nominee and Best of the Net nominee, her work has been widely published in journals, anthologies, and other publications, including Four Way Review, Denver Quarterly, The Cincinnati Review, Shenandoah, Rattle, Mid-American Review, RHINO, and elsewhere.
Michael "Chief" Peterson marries social consciousness with mellow poetic verses. Born and raised in New Britain, CT, he declares himself a man dedicated to his family and focused on helping our youth. Chief not only speaks about social inequities and individual struggle, but he acts to change the cycle. Chief is the playwright of and actor in his one-man show, I Wish Life Had Training Wheels. He was recently appointed as the first ever Poet Laureate of his hometown, New Britain Connecticut. He appeared on Seasons 4,5, & 6 of the TvOne hit series, Lexus’ Verses and Flow. He is a 3x Connecticut Spoken Word Grand Slam Champion as well as a coach for the CT youth and adult poetry slam teams. Chief was featured at the Kallio Block Party in Helsinki, Finland. He also performed at the 2012 London Olympics. He has also performed alongside Brian Mcknight, Music SoulChild and Ginuwine during the Love, Heart and Soul Tour. Chief recently released his 2nd Spoken Word Poetry Album ‘Poetic Therapy’ which has been submitted to the Recording Academy to be placed in consideration for the Best Spoken-Word Poetry Album Grammy. He has also curated and co-hosts the All Black Men Need Therapy Podcast.
He is graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University.
He is currently a Dean of Students at his alma mater, New Britain High School, and is also a part-time Child Development Specialist. From the high school where he works, to the stages where he performs, this poet on the rise turns his art into action while inspiring people to do the same. Chief is no stranger to the injustice he speaks out about. This is a performer who literally practices what he preaches.