by Mel Wells
After a lot of rescheduling due to snow, Cleveland students who had a WITS writer-in-residence during the fall semester were finally able to celebrate and share their work at Ford Food and Drink. Eleven students and one teacher read for an audience of about thirty-two friends and family. These students worked with WITS writers Alex Behr, who worked in two of Jamie Incorvia’s freshman English classes, and Cooper Lee Bombardier, who worked in two of Susie Brighouse’s sophomore English classes.
Student work ranged from personal to political, and often both. They wrote about the pain of having family members pass away, their fears and frustrations with discrimination of all types, falling in love, and childhood memories, just to name a few. Each writer had a unique voice and used distinct imagery to convey their stories. We have our fingers crossed that these students all submit their work to the 2016-17 WITS anthology!
We also want to give a huge thanks to the crew at Ford Food & Drink who stayed open late on a Monday night and were incredible hosts. Also, thanks to all the students who read, and their teachers for hosting a WITS writer and helping make sure this evening event was a success. Last but certainly not least, thanks to all the parents and friends who came and participated as such a warm audience–it was a lovely community moment with powerful voices from our local youth.
