VIRTUAL EVENTS with THE TELLING ROOM
During the pandemic, The Telling Room has hosted and participated in a number of virtual events, panels, poetry readings, and even a presidential visit! Check out some of our recent recorded events below to see what our students, staff, and alums have been up to in our community.
The Storyteller Book Launch
Telling Room Young Emerging Authors Lead Teacher Kathryn Williams celebrates the launch of her newest young adult novel, The Storyteller, in this virtual event hosted by our partners at Print: A Bookstore. Kathryn is in conversation with Telling Room author and 2022 Ambassador Nina Powers.
Fall 2021 Program Readings
Tune in to watch the fall 2021 semester culmination readings from Second Story and Young Writers & Leaders, as well as the book launch for SWARM! Volume Three.
Instagram Live Reading with Authors from Shadowboxing
Authors Alexa Barstow, Simona Ickia Ngaullo, Avery Haushalter, Khalil Kilani, and Noor Sager from our 2021 anthology Shadowboxing joined Ambassador Amanda Dettmann for a reading of their work and conversations about the craft behind their stories and poems.
Storytelling as a Tool for Racial Equity
As part of Momentum: A Maine Racial & Social Equity Series, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater Portland Council of Governments, United Way of Greater Portland, the Portland Public Library, and the Maine Historical Society welcome recent graduates of The Telling Room's writing programs to share their perspectives on storytelling, social change, and racial equity.
Young Writers & Leaders Virtual Readings Spring 2021
Young Writers and Leaders is a free, nine-month afterschool literary arts education program exclusively for high school students with international and multicultural backgrounds. These two readings, where students shared writing from their forthcoming chapbook No Time For Rehearsing, were hosted in collaboration with the Portland Public Library.
Earth Day Youth Poetry Reading & Discussion
The Natural Resources Council of Maine and The Telling Room paired up for an Earth Day celebration with young Maine poets reading their original work inspired by Maine’s environment. Watch a special appearance & poem from Governor Janet Mills, followed by a thought-provoking conversation with the youth poets, moderated by Samaa Abdurraqib, a Circle of Advisors member of the Indigo Arts Alliance, which embodies a Black-led, multiracial approach to the rich intersections of citizenship, community-building, & creativity. After the poets read their original works, Samaa leads a discussion about the inspiration behind their pieces, focusing on how poetry helps amplify their messages of environmental action.
Poetry Express via Instagram Live
To celebrate National Poetry Month, The Telling Room teamed up with the Maine Humanities Council to host a Poetry Express reading via Instagram Live to celebrate Maine’s diverse generations of poets. Co-hosted by Telling Room Ambassadors Amanda Dettmann and Rachel Iradukunda, the first half features young poets from The Telling Room reading their own work, then in the second segment the authors share works from other Maine poets who have inspired them, ranging from Edna St. Vincent Millay to recent Maine Poet Laureate Stuart Kestenbaum.
President Barack Obama Virtually Visits The Telling Room
In early 2021, renowned world leader and acclaimed author President Barack Obama Zoomed into our Young Writers & Leaders program to talk with our students about leadership and writing. Check out a glimpse of their conversation below, and learn more about this special moment here.
Summer 2020 Student Writers & Readers Meet! Chapbook Launch
Student Writers & Readers Meet! (SWARM!) is a virtual network of youth writing groups across the State of Maine. Students read from their stories and poetry via Zoom to celebrate the release of the premiere SWARM! chapbook!
Young Emerging Authors 2020 Book Launch
Virtual book launch for the 2019-2020 Young Emerging Authors program, featuring Truth Be Cold by Alexa Barstow, The Weight of Objects by Emma Dawson-Webb, The Unraveling by Devin Gifford, and Boy in Bloom by Nina Powers.