Pamela L. Laskin, an award-winning poet, children’s book author, and English lecturer at City College of New York (CCNY), will be the featured poet at the 52nd Annual CCNY Poetry Festival. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20, at the Marian Anderson Theater in Aaron Davis Hall. Originally scheduled for May 10, the festival has been rescheduled.
“The City College Poetry Festival represents the democratic spirit of poetry in New York City’s public schools,” said Laskin, who also directs the CCNY Poetry Outreach Center, the festival’s organizer. “It celebrates the voices of many poets, all with remarkable stories to share. Walt Whitman would be proud.”
The festival is expected to feature poetry recitations by up to 150 students from approximately 50 schools. Deborah Newman, a former teacher from P.S. 368 in Brooklyn, praised the festival, saying, “The children eagerly anticipate this event each year. It’s a significant highlight for them, marking a full year of poetry.”
Barry Wallenstein, CCNY professor emeritus and former festival founder, noted the festival’s role in fostering long-term connections. “In 1975, I introduced a third-grade student to an audience of 400. By 1996, that same student returned to introduce her fourth-grade class at the festival.”
The festival also features readings by renowned poets. Past participants include Paul Simon, Allen Ginsberg, Gwendolyn Brooks, Adrienne Rich, Billy Collins, and many others. Pamela Laskin will be a highlight of this year’s event.
In addition to student readings, the festival will award cash prizes to the top three winners of its citywide high school poetry contest. The festival also honors the best poem written in a language other than English, reflecting the diverse community of both New York City and CCNY.
The event is supported by the American Academy of Poets and CCNY’s Division of Humanities and the Arts. Sponsors include CCNY President Vincent G. Boudreau and Dee Dee Mozeleski, Vice President of the Office of Institutional Advancement & Communications.
About Pamela L. Laskin
Pamela L. Laskin has led the CCNY Poetry Outreach Center for nearly 20 years. She is a poet and children’s book author with numerous publications. Her works include “Life on the Moon: My Best Friend’s Secrets,” “The Heroic Young Woman,” and the young adult novels “Ronit and Jamil” and “Why No Goodbye,” which won the 2018 International Fiction Prize. Laskin’s book “BEA” was a finalist for the Katherine Paterson Prize for Children’s Fiction.
Laskin received the 2022 Freedom Through Literacy Board Option Award for her work in using poetry to help children cope with grief and find their voices.
For more information about the 53rd CCNY Spring Poetry Festival, contact Alyssa Yankwitt at [email protected] or visit the Poetry Outreach Center.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has offered high-quality and affordable education. CCNY ranks #1 on the Opportunity Insights mobility index and #1 nationally for economic return on investment. The Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide for academic excellence. With an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, CCNY is a leader in education and research. The College’s latest fundraising campaign, “Doing Remarkable Things Together,” aims to increase the College Foundation’s assets to over $1 billion.