about us.

Volition Unlimited was founded in Fall 2013 by Annika Michelle, who began hosting open mics in Fort Worth toward the close of her graduate studies. Combining social-justice advocacy with her creative work, she developed partnerships and expanded the scope of the project until it became a non-profit organization.

We currently operate weekly open mics, a poetry slam, and online communities that nurture and promote the art and artists of spoken word.

Empowerment begins with the knowledge that one has power — and is accompanied by the assertion of that power. Volition Unlimited operates under the premise that the creative writing process, when shared publicly, gives the author and performer the opportunity to be deliberately mindful of the collective sharing of information. Individuals connect socially through relatable narratives, and collective empowerment is comprised of individual empowerment — which spoken word offers.

Many artists and audiences report spoken word as having therapeutic benefits. Historically, social movements have been influenced and facilitated in part by the activism of spoken word. Through the contemporary oral tradition offered at an open mic, individuals share content of their choosing in a community setting — a valuable opportunity in a society where much of the culture and entertainment is determined by those who stand to profit commercially, sometimes without regard for the social implications, especially to those most marginalized.