RASP: About Us
Celebrating literary arts and poetry in Redmond since 1997
RASP was founded in 1997 to promote literary arts and activities in Redmond, Washington, and the surrounding area. We meet on the last Friday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Pacific time) for a featured presentation and an open-mic reading at Centro Cultural Mexicano. RASP also holds a monthly writing critique group via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM (Pacific time). All events are open to the public and usually free. Please join us!
While literature is one of our best avenues for dealing with difficult subjects, remember that our meetings are open to a diverse audience, including young people. We ask that your reading does not attempt to normalize discrimination or mistreatment of others.
Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series, Poetry & Prose Circle, and other RASP events.
Who we are
The Redmond Association of Spokenword was founded in January 1997 to promote written and spoken arts—poetry, fiction, drama, and nonfiction—in East King County through inclusive performance events and educational programming.
The RASP Reading Series features a published writer from the diverse Pacific Northwet literary community performing original work. The admission-free series is in its 19th year.
The RASP Open Mic is also free. We welcome poets, writers, spoken word performers, and artists-at-large of all ages in an honest, supportive, and unrestricted environment. The Poetry & Prose Circle offers writers a safe and nonthreatening place to discuss and share creative work, then offer ideas for improvement.
On August 26, 2013, RASP released our Poetry Anthology, titled Here, There, and Everywhere. It features 120 poems by 70 poets and was edited by Reading Series curator Michael Dylan Welch.
RASP has produced the Poets in the Park conference, the Write Out Loud! literary arts festival, the Eastside Young Authors Contest, numerous teen and adult writing workshops (haiku, fiction, poetry, performance arts). RASP also participates in Redmond and East King County civic and arts events.
Board of Directors
(Term runs through)
President/Reading Series Curator:
Michael Dylan Welch
(2025)
Vice President:
Darren Nordlie
(2025)
Secretary:
Pamela Denchfield
(2025)
Treasurer/Webmaster:
Michael Heavener
(2026)
Member at large:
Janka Hobbs
(2026)
Kari Tai
(2026)
Emily Young
(2025)
Positions are available on the RASP board:
Talk to us at any RASP event or email us at contact.rasp.read@gmail.com
Contact us at:
P.O. Box 3201
Redmond, WA 98073-3201
If you hear about us from somewhere else (or someone else), please let us know where, by
RASP promotes written and spoken arts in Redmond and East King County through inclusive performance events and educational programming.
Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series
* RASP uses MailChimp and complies with their Acceptable Use Policy, including protection of your privacy.
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