MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — In an era when most conversations happen through a screen, more people are choosing to step behind a microphone.

The first goal is honesty and the vessel is poetry. More clubs are popping up across South Florida to meet demand.

“I’m craving poets. I’m craving a place where we focus on presence rather than performance,” said Stella Amador, founder and curator of Wild Bloom Society.

Open mic nights are drawing more self-described “secret poets” out of the audience and onto the stage. It’s how Amador started her journey, creating what’s now become a cultural platform in Fort Lauderdale.

Check out Wild Bloom Society on Instagram.

At Emily’s Garden Bistro & Wine Bar, strangers gather each month to share a few honest words. Many often leave with much more than applause, they find connection and community. Amador wants to see that grow.

“I describe poetry like an 800-pound gorilla sitting on your chest and it needs to come out,” she said. “When you write it on the page, there’s a levity that happens, there’s a pressure release. When you share it with a friend, there’s another level of release. When you step on stage - there’s a bigger release.”

The group has grown from a small gathering of locals meeting at a friend’s bakery, into a thriving creative community. They host poetry events, workshops and artistic gatherings — joining forces with other groups like Miami Poetry Club.

“I think the first one we had about 18 people,” said Amador. “The second one we had a little bit over 20, and then on the third one we had 40. We outgrew the space within two months and he said, ‘Hey, I love you, but you gotta go,’” she laughed.

Amador left corporate life to pursue her writing fulltime, completing and publishing her book. She hit the poetry circuits across Miami-Dade County, but says she wanted something in Broward focused on presence more than anything.

Visit Bloombystella.com.

Every Wild Bloom Society experience starts with live music, a featured poet and a microphone for anyone to share.

Participants say anyone can write poetry. Sharing it is the difficult part.

“A poem is just words, but I think a poet is what gives it that personality. It is an art form that is for everyone. Very subjective,” said poet Christian Rodriguez.

To submit an idea for What Connects Us, email whatconnectsus@wplg.com.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.