Poetry workshop promotes healing and personal growth.

Meet Rosalind. A minister who fell on hard times and became temporarily homeless, she now lives at Susan’s Place. Two weeks ago, Rosalind organized a poetry workshop at the shelter, using poetry as therapy, reaching out to others in her situation. Rosalind volunteered to lead this one-hour workshop, called Suite Poetry, which teaches the art of poetry, incorporating styles from around the world.


There wasn't a dry eye in the room as seven women read pieces aloud during the workshop. One woman wrote:

I sat down one day to think
How come I was born
For since I’m black and known as a slave
I’m worked till I’m tired and worn…

This week attendance at the poetry workshop doubled.

Susan’s Place is our 200-bed transitional shelter in the Bronx for mentally ill and medically frail homeless women. On average, women stay at Susan’s Place between six and nine months. Since the program opened in 2008, over 800 women have moved out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

Workshops like Suite Poetry are part of the healing process, helping Care for the Homeless clients overcome the trauma of homelessness. Could you donate one evening a month to help promote healing and personal growth? Do you have an idea for a workshop? We want to hear from you.


Please contact Joe Vargas in Volunteer Services at Volunteerservices@cfhnyc.org or click here for more information. Join Rosalind and volunteer your time and talent and make a difference today. 

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