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4th Biennial Gathering of U.S. State Poets
April 19 to 23, 2009 throughout Rhode Island
(click on logo above for more information)
An inn-keeper, a mother, a basketball coach and a teacher, Lisa Starr, Rhode Island’s Poet Laureate, divides her time among a variety of interests, her family, and her passion for poetry. She is a two-time recipient of the R.I. Fellowship for Poetry. In her capacity as Poet Laureate, Starr is generating a statewide poetry pen-pal system which creates and then partners writing circles among student and elderly communities around the state. She has also established poetry circles in hospitals, homeless shelters, the state prison, and agencies for children with severe mental and physical disabilities. April 19-24, 2009 Starr will be assembling more than a dozen US State Poets Laureate in Rhode Island for Poetry for Hope, a series of readings, workshops, and public forums featuring the visiting poets and emerging and established Rhode Island poets and musicians at schools, libraries and cultural attractions around the state.
Starr’s third collection of poems, Mad With Yellow, was just published in September, 2008. She is the author of two other books: This Place Here (2001) and Days of Dogs and Driftwood (1993). Starr is the founder and director of the Block Island Poetry Project, the nationally acclaimed celebration of the arts and humanity, now in its 6th year. With the help of husband Champlin, children Orrin (12) and Millie (11), and Brother the Dog, Starr operates the Hygeia House, a 10-room inn on Block Island. When time permits, she writes her heart out.
Lisa can be reached via email at lisastarr1@mindspring.com
Schedule of Events as of 4-5-2009
POETRY FOR HOPE
Itinerary
Proposed Timeline:
Sunday- Friday, April 19-23, 2009 (updated April 5)
Sunday, April 19 poets arrive to Block Island
12:30: Lunch, Hygeia House
2:00-4:30: Guided island tour and birding or nature walk
6:00-7:00: Dinner, Harbor Baptist Church with local boards and dignitaries, sponsored by local restaurants and BITC.
7:30-9:00: Introduction to visiting poets (1 poem per), then local entertainment (BI drummers, BI ecumenical choir, BI student(s).
Monday April 20
8:00-9:00: Breakfast: Hygeia House
9:30: ferry departure
11:00-12:30: poets in schools, South County:
Monsignor Clark(10:45-12:45, 3 large groups),
South Kingston (3: SKHS, Broad Rock, Curtis Corner Middle) ,
Narragansett school tbd
12:45-1:45: lunch at Amalfis
1:45-2:45: South County Trolley tour and scenic delivery to Providence hotels
2:45-5:45: Down time down city
6:00-7:15: Informal dinner, Club Tazza
7:30-9:00: Kick-Off: Providence City Hall: introduction of attending dignitaries (Government (state and local), arts officials, tourism partners, etc), and visiting laureates (who will read one poem per); honoring of former RI Laureates (we hope), and hip-hop/rap presentation from the fine young people at Providence’s Institute for non-Violence.
Tuesday, April 21
Breakfast: Providence hotels
9:30-12:00: Poets in the schools, Blackstone Valley (Blackstone Academy, Central Falls, Beacon Charter School) and Providence (Central High School)
12:00-1:00: Boxed lunches and transfer to hotels
2:00-3:30: optional walking tour of Providence; visit to “POOM” art exhibit at 5 Traverse Gallery
6:00-7:00: Poets Laureate will lead three separately themed workshops with participating writers (at Mixed Magic Theatre, the Blackstone Theatre and Blackstone Visitor Center)
7:00-8:00: Dinner at China Inn
8:00-9:30: A night of poetry performed by visiting Poets Laureate at Mixed Magic Theatre (musical entertainment tbd)
Wednesday, April 22
Breakfast in Providence Hotels
7:30-9:30: Poets in schools: West Warwick High School
10: 00-12:00: Poets in the schools:
Warwick : Cedar Hill Elementary School,
Providence: William B. Cooley Health Science and Technology High School
Classical High School
12:15-3:00: Lunch, nature hike and poets roundtable at Forge Farm, Warwick
1:30-3:00: North Kingston Public Library (3 poets to visit NKPL for program)
3-3:45: shuttle to Newport Hotels
3:45-5:45: down time, Newport
6:00-7:15: dinner, Salve Regina
7:30-9:00: A celebration of Poetry and Earth Day, Salve Regina, sponsored by English department and library. Poetry by visiting poets as well as Salve faculty and students. Music tbd
Thursday, April 23:
Breakfast at Newport Hotels
9:30-12:00: Newport schools and libraries:
Rogers High School
The Met School/Even Start
Redwood Library (panel w/Randy- topic tbd))
12:30-2:30: Lunch and program Seamen’s Church Institute
2:30-4:00: 3 poets to workshop at Salve Regina
3:45-5:00: Trolley tour of Newport and transfer to Jamestown
5:00-7:30: Appreciation reception/cocktail party. Music (by RI musicians), socializing and light fare for poets. 100 people invited to this event.
7:30: Transfer back to Newport;
Friday, April 24: breakfast and good-byes; transfer to airports.