West
Chester University Conference on Form and Narrative
In
1995 Gioia co-founded the West
Chester University Conference on Form and Narrative. The
nation's only writers' conference focused on the traditional
techniques of poetry, the annual West Chester gathering has
become the largest ongoing all-poetry conference in the U.S.
Keynote speakers have included Richard Wilbur, Anthony Hecht,
Wendy Cope, and Marilyn Nelson.
Teaching
Poetry Conference
In
2001, Gioia launched the innovative Teaching
Poetry Conference in Sonoma County, California. Designed
for teachers of English, especially at the high school and middle
school levels, the conference bring nationally-acclaimed poets
and teachers together. The schedule includes practical workshops,
panels, and poetry readings in a relaxing, collegial atmosphere.