Poetry Class Students Volunteer with Local Poets in “Service-Learning” Opportunities

Students in several of Dr. Mary Ann Miller’s poetry classes took advantage of “service-learning options” this semester. These volunteer opportunities gave the students the option to work alongside local poets to fulfill a required portion of the course grade.

Zeth Bell and Nicole DeNichilo helped Laura Boss, editor of the poetry magazine Lips, send out rejection letters and update her archives. This process helped them learn why poems are selected or rejected for publication, as well as how to write a literary letter to submit with a poem.

Under the direction of poet Loren Kleinman, students Jacqueline Bain, Shante Thomas, Mary Kerwin, Ali Chohan, and Juliette Wilson learned principles of selecting and ordering poems within a collection and principles of selecting publishers.

Dymon Johnston, Ruba Sbeah, Grace Jackson, Ariella Ventura, James Quinn, Mary Kate McGrath, and Samantha Payerl hosted a reading for Diane Lockward at the West Caldwell Public Library on Saturday, April 10. Under Lockward’s direction, the students publicized the reading on poetry websites and attended the event, where they introduced the poet, sold copies of her book, and provided refreshments.

Roberta Chatson-Simons, Heather Halasz, Asia Bash-Gaffney, Dave Roberts, and Brian Birchier assisted poet Madeline Tiger with a variety of tasks, including selecting poems for her next collection, organizing files of poems, and updating her Facebook account.

“The aim of the service-learning option in my poetry course is to enable students to understand the role and value of poetry in contemporary society by witnessing first-hand the work of an accomplished local poet,” said Dr. Miller. “Ultimately, participating in service to a poet should foster the spirit of volunteerism for the arts.”