Our Mirror: Diverse Voices Reflect on Life in the Valley
Adult Students at The Literacy Project Read Original Work at the Emily Dickinson Museum
AMHERST – Amherst is well-known as a mecca for published authors and aspiring poets of all ages. But the writers who shared their work on Thursday evening at the Emily Dickinson Museum were not retired professors or MFA candidates. They were students at The Literacy Project in Amherst, who are studying to improve their reading, writing and math, complete their high school education, and prepare for college and careers. The students shared their original poems, stories and essays as part of the Arts Night Plus series, thanks to grants from the Amherst Arts Council and the Mass Cultural Council.
The December 5th reading was the culmination of a series of creative writing workshops which used prompts from nature and daily life to encourage students to write. One student wrote about the joy she feels emanating from a single flower blossom: “Tinted flower bursting, stretching forward with promise, fragrant and pure…” Another student wrote about the struggles of being a new immigrant: “I was very excited to see the USA. But, with my arrival in Amherst, MA, all the excitement and joy disappeared...”
The collection of writings, which they have titled “Our Mirror” reflects the students’ unique experiences of living in the Pioneer Valley. “The Literacy Project teaches adult students of all ages and backgrounds,” notes Executive Director Judith Roberts. “Some are beginning readers and writers, while others are immigrants who are improving their English language skills. All of the students have important stories to share about their lives in the Valley.” Many of the students who attend classes at The Literacy Project in Amherst are new immigrants and refugees.
