Thank Goodness for Poetry

In early 2021, a seemingly endless pandemic kept raging alongside protests fueled by racial injustice and devastating police violence. Everyone I knew was angry, overwhelmed, and grieving.

At the Mellon Foundation, I'd discovered that poetry was one place to turn for solace and instruction. As the 25th anniversary of National Poetry Month approached, I pitched a multimedia concept to the Academy of American Poets and visual artist Sindha Agha, and a few months later our project was published in the New York Times.

The series featured three contemporary poets reading a favorite poem from the past. The choice was up to them, the only requirement that the piece offer some meaning and comfort to the public in a time of collective sorrow.

I worked with the Academy to select the poets, facilitated interviews and coordinated the technology required to capture high-quality audio remotely, and oversaw the materials licensing process. I also worked in close creative partnership with Sindha Agha throughout.

Sindha wrote a companion opinion piece for the New York Times Oped section where the three videos were featured. Over 200 people commented with gratitude and care, offering their own favorite poems to readers in response.