Earth & Poetry Day at Whittier Narrows Natural Area

Earth & Poetry Day event

April 18 at Whittier Narrows Natural Area


The public is invited to enjoy the timeless combination of nature and poetry when the historic Whittier Narrows Natural Area plays host to a free Earth & Poetry Day event on Sunday, April 18, 2010.


The family-friendly celebration, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., will include a docent-led nature walk at 11 a.m. followed by poetry performances and refreshments beginning at 12:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a nature-themed poem to share.

The event will include performances by touring poet Jared Paul, of Providence, R.I., and Southern California poets Deborah P. Kolodji, Chris Wesley and Erika Ayón.



All activities will take place in or leave from the picnic area outside the nature center.The event marks both National Poetry Month and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which this year falls on Wednesday, April 22. The natural area, a wildlife sanctuary founded by the National Audubon Society, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2009.

The Whittier Narrows Natural Area is located at:

1000 N. Durfee Ave.
South El Monte CA 91733

(626) 575-5523

across from South El Monte High School
Parking is free

The event is sponsored by the nonprofit Whittier Narrows Nature Center Associates. For further event information, please contact Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo at (626) 484-0582.


Some info on one of the featured poets:

Erika Ayón emigrated from Mexico when she was five years old. She grew up in South Central Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English. She was selected as a 2009 PEN Emerging Voices Fellow and is currently working on a collection of poetry entitled Orange Lady. The title stems from her childhood experience of selling oranges with her family on the streets of Los Angeles. Erika's writing addresses issues of poverty, race, cultural implications, gender, and the immigrant experience.