Dear Friends,
When people hear that sponsorship of this program entails the fund-raiser writing thirty poems, they are awe-struck! It does sound ambitious to the point of impossible! However, for me, the idea is to write something every day which could, or even might- best possible case scenario - become a poem. So, for me I humbly submit, or admit, that "30 poems" is "30 scribbles" which, in the best of worlds, one or more of which strike me after the fact as something that might be worth working with toward a poem.
SO: I hope that in itself might be an inspiration for all of us - like all writers and instructors of writing say - just getting something on the page is a victory.
And WHAT an opportunity, how fortunate we are that this tiny victory, with your participation, is in service of the human rights and dignity of our brothers and sisters who come often to the US seeking safety and freedom from harm as much as they do opportunity.
If my scribbles can seem small and insignificant, so can your gift - in the end neither are.
And if a scribble of mine becomes a potential poem, I will proudly and humbly share.
From the Center for New Americans Director, Laurie Millman, about how urgently needed the CNAM services are:
The need has never been greater. Our English classes - mornings and evenings, in person and online, in four different sites- are full and we have waitlists. …. Our advisors support students with connections to community resources, accompaniment to job fairs, and requests for bus passes. Our legal team is supporting newcomers living in shelters who are applying for employment authorization, while also assisting with citizenship applications.
If you are reading this I have no doubt of your engagement and work toward to social ans global good in our broken and ever-more fractured world, the likes of which most of us have never known But to state the obvious, it is hard to not feel hopeless – this is such a local, concrete, and I think, beautiful way to make a contribution.
In solidarity and with hope and appreciation.
Til/ Matilda
