This week passed by so fast! Preparations are under way for recognition week; a week to celebrate the accomplished graduates of the CLSC program for the 2025 summer.
The faculty brought in for the week were Sharon Flake and Caroline Starr Rose! I was able to attend the event where I heard about the works they’ve published, and a bit about who they were outside of writing. The dynamic they created together while up there was amazing to watch unfold. Sharon Flake read from her book, “The Skin I’m In” which I have previously not heard of. The series that followed that book holds such important and sometimes heavy topics that intrigued me enough to get an online copy to read!
This week I took a workshop with Caroline Starr Rose called “Listen to the Work”. It was a workshop that focused on Middle-grade writing, which I had no clue about. But the workshop was absolutely wonderful, and I was able to learn more writing processes that stray from the “standard” way to write a Novel.
At the beginning of the week, I was able to catch parts of the book discussion for this weeks CLSC book, “Chain Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenya. This book is truly so captivating, and opens up a major discussion of how cruel the prison system is. During the event where Nana Kwame read from his book, he had the crowd shout chants, and hum rhythms to be a part of the literature. Truly this reading has been eye-opening for me on a topic I had never paid much attention to.
I was so moved by the story that I bought a copy, and got it signed. With it, I wanted Nana Kwame to include a quote he said during his talk “I care about you the way I care about myself” This encourages us to have as much compassion for another person.
Also on the Porch of Alumni Hall, I shared a piece from my novel at the Summer on the Steps event highlighting staff writing. Though it was slightly terrifying, I found so much pride in sharing something that I care so deeply for.
I hope that at some point I will find the time to attend events that are held in the Amphitheater here. I can hear a lot of the practicing and some events from the Poetry Maker Space whenever I have shifts throughout the week. On August 2-3rd performer Laufey will be performing, and I am doing everything in my power to get there! I look forward to musical performances that happen here, and that one is one I am beyond excited for.