I Wrote Myself Stronger: Poetic Justice Institute Activates Students

By Shan Rao

This past school year, the Poetic Justice Institute at Fordham worked closely with Fordham students to bear witness to a slowly opening New York City during a global pandemic, featured a reading and writing series of prominent poet-activists and centered BIPOC student experience and perspective at the University.

In Fall 2021, students met in Central Park and read and wrote poetry together around a simple breakfast picnic. They reflected on the privilege of gathering together in person and talked about how they would encounter their in-person classes and fledging friendships. A number of students had never met a fellow Fordham student in person and so there were many wide smiles of welcome. Together they wrote odes to gratitude, to seeing each other's faces, and to hope for the future. In addition, Poetic Justice held nine poetry readings and generative writing sessions held via Zoom featuring poets and activists such as MARS, José Olivarez, Tawana Petty and Tamiko Beyer. These gatherings were open to the larger University community and the public.

In Spring 2022, Fordham students and faculty gathered for the second annual Poetic Justice Institute Festival. This year’s festival centered BIPOC Fordham students from both campuses.

Poetic Justice Institute Co-Director Sarah Gambito and Graduate Assistant Cathy Linh Che led the event with support from student Fellows Bea Mendoza and Shan Rao. Students were split into three home groups to facilitate an even more intimate environment. Each group was led by a BIPOC faculty member from Fordham’s English department: Dennis Tyler, Julie Kim, and Dionne Ford. Each spent dedicated time with a group of four students throughout the day.

Old friends and classmates greeted one another, and students took seats beside unknown faces, bonding over shared favorite books or their Ram Van commute. The Festival began with an Opening Circle in Dealy Hall where students and faculty shared what they hoped to receive from the day and what their experiences as a part of the Fordham community had been. The room was suspended as each participant took their turn sharing with vulnerability and generosity. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and all participants emerged closer and more eager to connect as the activities continued.

Following this moving introduction, the group made its way to the New York Botanical Garden for generative writing to a series of prompts that took them on a contemplative journey in the garden. As students wandered the gardens to write, Fellow Bea Mendoza snapped photos to document to experience.

As everyone returned to campus, there was a sense of lightness about the group. Students talked and laughed, voices carrying in the wind. As she walked through the gates of the garden, Sarah Gambito proclaimed, “I hadn’t realized it was spring until today with you. You all reminded me of spring.” Others echoed her sentiment on the walk back as several other participants shared about their big ongoing writing projects and how they felt a new inspiration to keep writing.

Back in Dealy Hall, poet guests John Murillo and Nicole Sealy joined the group via Zoom to read poetry and share their top tips for young BIPOC writers. In seamless conversation, the speakers bolstered students while simultaneously being honest about the realities of life as a writer of color. “You are all so dear to me,” Murillo told students, “but the world will not care for you. You have to take care of yourselves.” Students also had a chance to ask individual questions about their fears or uncertainties as writers.

Uplifted by the advice of the visitors, each Home Group spent time in salon, sharing their own work that they’d each written in the Botanical Garden and discussing their larger-scale creative projects. Faculty were surprised to find that many of the students hadn’t met before that day—though it had only been a few hours, everyone had begun to talk easily and familiarly around one another. As each participant took time to share their words, it felt truly magical.

The day closed out with a Closing Circle and a dinner of tacos. As students and faculty reflected on the day, there was an outpouring of gratitude. Graduating RH senior Arianna Chen was deeply grateful for the event and the opportunity to be in community with students:

My participation in the Poetic Justice Institute certainly revamped my passion for creative writing and poetry after primarily focusing on nonfiction throughout my Fordham career. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to share space with such talented BIPOC writers and faculty, as well as build community with the English Department! This is such a wonderful opportunity, particularly for BIPOC students, to learn more about the professional field through a specific lens.

Over dinner, people discussed the new Beyoncé video and who their favorite poets were. As the day wore to a close, students lingered, still mingling, not yet ready to leave the suspension of the experience. Hugging one another, everyone’s goodbye was heartfelt and full of gratitude. As graduating LC senior Kaitlin Cunanan put it: “I can confidently say that the Poetic Justice Institute Festival encompassed everything I love about and hope for Fordham into a single event. It was transformative, warm, and inclusive. I'm happy to have created the poem of community with everyone present.”

Poetic Justice Institute is accepting applications for student Fellows for 2022 - 2023 until Thursday, April 21st. Interested students can apply here.