Poetry Writing Workshop
Partnering with Charlotte Gullick, Interim Director, Exploring Transfer Program ECMC Program Manager, Exploring Transfer Together and Student Growth and Engagement).
In the fall of 2023, the offices of Engaged Pluralism and Student Growth and Engagement launched the Writing Unworkshop Series 2023–24. Open to the entire Vassar community, the Writing Unworkshop Series emerged as a testament to the power of writing as a tool for personal exploration, community-building, and resistance.
Over the course of three fall 2023 sessions and an additional session in spring 2024, participants in the Writing Unworkshops heard testimonials from session facilitators about their motivations for writing, followed by brief readings of samples of their work. Participants then were guided through writing exercises to develop their own voice through journaling and reflective writing, before coming together for open reflection.
The Writing Unworkshop was born out of the collective efforts of members of the Vassar community including the Rest as a Resistance movement, Interim Director, Exploring Transfer Program ECMC Program Manager, Exploring Transfer Together Charlotte Gullicks’ session at the 2023 Spring CHAS (Consortium on High Achievement and Success) conference at Vassar, Professor Kimberly Williams Brown’s work on intergroup dialogue, and Director of ALANA Center, Nicole Beverridge’s Weekly Writing Gatherings, all of which invite individuals to reclaim their voices and stories in a supportive and nurturing environment.
October 12, 2023, from 3–4 PM at Pratt House
- Facilitated by Charlotte Gullick
November 21, 2023, from 10–11 at Pratt House
- Facilitated by Selena Hughes
December 6, 2023, from 1–2:30 at Pratt House
- Facilitated by Prof. Kimberly Williams Brown
Professor Kimberly Williams-Brown shared from her new book Say, Listen: Writing as Care.
During this last session of the semester, participants will be encouraged to
- Listen to when their body needs Rest.
- Create moments of Reflection not connected to “productivity”.
- Restoration of a sense of self-worth and
- Build a Community of support and care
February 2, 2023, from 2–4 at the ALANA Center (link)
- Facilitated by Kate Hymes, Ulster County Poet Laureate
Participants were guided to think about the gaps in our historical knowledge of marginalized communities and how speculative writings can help give voice to these missing stories. In particular, Kate Hymes shared what is known about Olive Thurman, daughter of Howard Thurman, and participants wrote poems to speak to the areas of her life that are lost to history.
April 26 Documenting Black Resilience at Vassar
- Facilitated by Matt Ford ’17
Resilience reconciles the past, sustains the present, and provides a roadmap for the future. Documenting stories about resilience is essential to strengthening community and building an archive, framework, or praxis around collective power. How is Black student resilience—both on campus and in the post-graduate world—being documented? In this unworkshop, Matt Ford ’17 will guide Black-identifying Vassar alums and current students through a conversation and writing exercise reflecting on Black student storytelling and healing. Alums and current students will discuss their unique experiences on and off campus, write about the resources that helped them (at least begin to) thrive, and create a collective archive of their stories to share with generations of Black Vassar students to come.
Students, alums, faculty, staff, and administrators are very welcome.
