Wellesley College Brings Poetry to the MBTA for National Poetry Month

Wellesley, Mass. (April 1, 2019) — Wellesley College is kicking off National Poetry Month by sharing 29 poems from students, faculty, staff, and alumnae on the MBTA subway lines through Poetry on the T—part of a collaboration with Mass Poetry, an organization that works to bring poetry to readers of all ages and transform lives through inspiring verse. In cars on each of the four lines, riders will find poems written by members of the Wellesley community; a playlist of the poems, read by the authors, is also available.

“Poetry has great power to bring people together,” said Wellesley President Paula A. Johnson. “Never has the world more needed its healing, connective force—so beautifully displayed in the work of our community members. We are pleased to help advance the role of poetry in our culture and to join forces with Mass Poetry to share its magic with everyone."

Mass Poetry launched Poetry on the T in 2014. Daniel Johnson, the organization’s executive director, said this latest iteration is “truly an amazing body of work—from students to faculty, and from police dispatchers to digital content directors—it shows that the Wellesley College community lives and breathes poetry."

Wellesley’s poetry celebration continues on campus with events that are open to the public:
 

• Tuesday, April 2: a performance by Climbing PoeTree, the spoken-word duo of award-winning hip-hop activists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman, at 4:30 p.m.

• Thursday, April 18: a reading by poet and Wellesley class of 2008 alumna Sumita Chakraborty at 4:30 p.m.

• Thursday, April 25: a joint reading by poets Natalie Scenters-Zapico and Phillip B. Williams at 4:30 p.m.

• Friday, April 26: the culminating event, a day-long celebration of poetry that includes “pop-up” readings, a letter-pressing workshop, outdoor multimedia art installations, and a performance by Wellesley’s internationally ranked slam poetry team.
   

About Wellesley College

Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an outstanding liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500-acre campus near Boston is home to some 2,400 undergraduate students from 49 states and 58 countries.
 

Press Contact

Casey Bayer, Director of Media Relations: (781) 283-3321; cbayer@wellesley.edu