Poetry Rocks, the reading series in Vernon, is celebrating its 10th year and Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring poets laureate from around the state. This Sunday, Sept. 27, the day will kick off at Arts Center East at 1:30 with a writing workshop by Milford Poet Laureate Elaine Nadal called “Storytelling in Poetry to Explore Ancestry and Complex Family Dynamics.”
Nadal, a Dominican American, elaborates: “How do family and ancestry shape our identities? We will examine traditions, trauma, memories, and heirlooms within the family unit. Attendees will have an opportunity to write their own poems.”
The cost is $25 for nonmembers of Arts Center East; $20 for members; $15 for students 13 - up. Register at https://www.artscentereast.org/store/p/exploring-ancestry-family-dynamics-a-writing-workshop
The workshop is followed by a free Poetry Rocks reading at 3:00 pm, featuring Elaine, Faith Vicinanza, Rick Magee and Mia Resto. An Open Mic, book sales, and refreshments will be held after the featured readers.
Elaine Nadal is Poet Laureate of Milford and author of When and Sweat, Dance, Sing, Cut, published by Finishing Line Press. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net-nominee, the Dominican-American poet has published in several journals. She holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan, as well as degrees in Spanish secondary education and fine arts (music). She has studied in Spain and Puerto Rico and delivered a TEDx talk on hope, poetry, and music. Nadal enjoys singing, translating, and traveling. Elaine said, “Writing is a way of making sofrito out of the experiences and varied truths of life. It is also a way of honoring the memory of my Abuela Flor, from whom I learned about struggle, determination, compassion, and love.”