ϲʹCounty children to read poems in annual Poetry for Peace – January 29
ϲʹ is hosting numerous young, local poets who will share their remarkable poetry at the eighth annual Poetry for Peace Contest Winners’ Celebration tonight, January 29. The event, held in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, will begin with a reception prior to the awards ceremony and readings. The University welcomes the public and media to attend.
Poetry for Peace is highly acclaimed among ϲʹand Bridgeport students. Over 1,000 children participate in the competition, which is sponsored by ϲʹ’s Writing Center, the English Department, Connecticut Writing Project-ϲʹand the MLK Coordinating Committee. It is held in conjunction with ϲʹ’s MLK Holiday Observation Week, which is an annual sequence of events that provide honor and recognition toward Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence on history.
Assistant Professor of English Carol Ann Davis, Ph.D., co-chair of the event, said, “This year's Poetry for Peace event represents the work of hundreds of young poets from 17 schools in Bridgeport and Fairfield. In the poetry the students read, we hear echoes of Langston Hughes, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others who have come before them. Each year we see students change and grow before our eyes as they see their work published, sometimes for the first time, or as they read for the first time. What a pleasure to host these new voices!”
Poetry for Peace holds the purpose of stimulating a discussion of how the creative language of poetry ties into ideas about peace. Poetry was submitted in November and judged by faculty, staff and students. The participants and their families are given a book composed of the winning poems at the awards ceremony.
Three divisions are indicated for the children’s entries: Kindergarten-2 nd grade, 3 rd -5 th grade, and 6 th -8 th grade. There are first, second, and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions. The judges also pick a handful of “favorites” from each category.
By Nicole Kowalczyk '16
