Throughout this poetry reading, we will hear Toussaint read several poems and share his writing process, followed by a deep dive into how the poet finds inspiration for poetry and music in nature, in Vermont, and across the seasons. Join us for an inspiring evening of poetry, music, and reflection on collective liberation.

Voices of the Forest with Toussaint St. Negritude

NBNC’s Spring 2026 Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Residency

Voices of the Forest is a free workshop series perfect for nature enthusiasts, poetry lovers, and anyone seeking fresh inspiration!

Toussaint St. Negritude is a former poet laureate of Belfast, Maine, and 2024 nominee for the poet laureateship of Vermont, self-taught bass clarinetist, Afrofuturist/Oro-shamanic poet, hat-maker, and more. Toussaint is the author of the recently published Mountain Spells (Rootstock Publishing, 2024). Mountain Spells is an intimate deep dive into how Toussaint — a “Black/queer/high-hat-wearing artist” — envisions the world through the lenses of spirituality, the liberation and expansion of the African diaspora, and nature as his home. Toussaint takes inspiration for his improvisational, freeform, and musical poetry from both jazz and the sounds of nature: “I listened to the birds, to the sky, what the leaves were telling me.”

Toussaint will facilitate a variety of workshops for youth and adults, as well as a session centering BIPoC and/or Queer participants. Each workshop will help participants connect with nature and find inspiration to express themselves through poetry and music while contemplating the existential questions and challenges we face as a community today, learning how to build a future together.

We invite you to come share new experiences in nature, explore new ways to express yourself, and discover Toussaint’s vision for how community-building can lay the ground for collective liberation.