Lost Voices Empire
Lost Voices Empire is a collective of poets, educators, performers, and community leaders dedicated to using the arts as a tool for healing, empowerment, and personal growth. Founded by award-winning poet and educator Andre Sansbury, the organization provides engaging performances, workshops, residencies, and community programs that help participants develop confidence, communication skills, emotional awareness, and creative expression. Through poetry, storytelling, and social-emotional learning practices, Lost Voices Empire has served schools, universities, nonprofits, and communities throughout North Carolina, creating safe spaces where individuals are encouraged to discover their voice.
Assembly Performance: Purpose Through Poetry
Purpose Through Poetry is an interactive spoken word poetry assembly that combines performance, storytelling, audience participation, and social-emotional learning. Students engage with topics such as leadership, resilience, confidence, mental wellness, goal setting, and self-expression while experiencing the transformative power of poetry and storytelling.
Duration: 90 minutes
Grade Level: Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 1500
Maximum Number of Performances: 5
Technical Requirements:
- Microphone, microphone stand, PA system.
NC Essential Standards: Special Populations, Special needs students
Cost: $1000 / one program $1750/ two programs (same school, same day)
Workshop - Purpose Through Poetry
Focuses solely on the art of poetry. This program is designed to educate individuals on how to read, write, and enjoy poetry in its purest forms. Most educational systems teach poetry in a basic structured program in which creates a lifelong resentment to the art. We give poetry a different feel that motivates individuals to use it for the many benefits it possesses. Once you bring poetry to life, it excites individuals instead of boring them like most traditional systems.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade Level: Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 150
Maximum Number of Performances: 3
Technical Requirements: Desk or writing areas, open floor plan to engage
NC Essential Standards: Special Populations Special needs students
Cost: $1250 / one program - $2,000/ two programs (same school, same day)
In-School Residency: Purpose Through Poetry: 4-Ses
Purpose Through Poetry: 4-Session Residency
Purpose Through Poetry is an arts-integrated social-emotional learning residency that uses poetry, storytelling, writing, and discussion to help students develop confidence, communication skills, emotional awareness, and self-expression. Led by a professional teaching artist and facilitator assistant, students participate in interactive activities designed to strengthen literacy, leadership, empathy, and creative thinking while creating original written work.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 30
Maximum Number of Performances: 1
Technical Requirements:
- Classroom space, desks or writing surfaces, open floor space for engagement activities.
NC Essential Standards: English/Language Arts, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Cost: $2500 per semester
In-School Residency: Purpose Through Poetry: Premi
Purpose Through Poetry: Premium 4-Session Residency
This enhanced residency features two professional teaching artists working collaboratively to increase engagement, individualized support, and student participation. Through poetry, performance, writing exercises, and social-emotional learning activities, students strengthen communication skills, emotional literacy, self-confidence, and creative expression while building meaningful connections with peers and facilitators.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 35
Maximum Number of Performances: 1
Technical Requirements:
- Classroom space, desks or writing surfaces, open floor space for engagement activities.
NC Essential Standards: English/Language Arts, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Cost: $3200 per program
In-School Residency: Purpose Through Poetry: Signa
Purpose Through Poetry: Signature 4-Session Residency with Andre Sansbury
Facilitated by Andre Sansbury, founder of Lost Voices Empire and creator of Purpose Through Poetry, this residency combines spoken word poetry, storytelling, writing, and social-emotional learning to help students discover the power of their voices. Students build confidence, leadership, communication skills, and emotional awareness while creating original work and developing meaningful self-expression.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 40
Maximum Number of Performances: 1
Technical Requirements:
- Classroom space, desks or writing surfaces, open floor space for engagement activities.
NC Essential Standards: English/Language Arts, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Cost: $3500 per program
In-School Residency: Purpose Through Poetry: 7-Ses
Purpose Through Poetry: 7-Session Residency
Featuring two professional teaching artists, this residency creates a highly interactive learning environment that allows for greater student engagement and support. Through poetry, performance, writing, and guided discussion, students develop communication skills, emotional intelligence, leadership abilities, and confidence while learning to use creative expression as a healthy outlet.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Maximum Number of Students: 35
Maximum Number of Performances: 1
Technical Requirements:
- Classroom space, desks or writing surfaces, open floor space for engagement activities.
NC Essential Standards: English/Language Arts, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Cost: $4800 per program
