Poets Read for Altadena Strong
Michael Sedano
The afternoon of poetry marked the one year anniversary of the ruination of Altadena. The Eaton Fire destroyed homes and dreams and awakened a spirit calling itself “Altadena Strong.”
That strength showed its face in poems and presentation at the Altadena main library when Altadena Co-Poets Laureate Sehba Sarwar and Lester Graves Lennon hosted “From the Ashes to Renewal: Voices of Resilience In Altadena.”
Featured readers include Sesshu Foster, Robin D.G. Kelley, Elline Lipkin, Roberta H. Martinez, Andrew Wessels, Ruth Nolan, and Désirée Zamorano. Special guests were emerging writers, Pasadena High School students, Keily Sahagun and Emilia Cabrales. Open Mic readers include Susan Auerbach, Natalia Hinojos, Jerry Nashel, Beverly Lafontaine, Mary Fitzpatrick, and Jenari.
This was the final reading in the space. The building will be renovated for a year and future readings in the popular series are scheduled for local sites. On February 28 from 2-4, Loma Alta Park Gym hosts “Rooted In Us: Celebrating Black Writers and the Legacy of S. Pearl Sharp.” The same site hosts the March 28 reading, “When We Gather, We Heal, Indigenous Voices in Poetry.” Capping the Co-Laureates’ year is “Poetry & Cookies Twentieth Anniversary Book Festival,” at Altadena’s Bob Lucas Branch Library.
On February 21, an important workshop from 11-1 at the Loma Alta gym: “To Submit or Not, and Where and When with Lynne Thompson.” Lynne Thompson was the 4th Poet Laureate for the City of Los Angeles.
All readings are livestreamed at youtube.com/AltadenaLibrary.
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| Young poets chat with a Poet Laureate while their English teacher looks on joyfully. |
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