River of Words at Book Passage By-the-Bay

On November 1st, Robert Hass, 1995-1997 US Poet Laureate, SMC alum, and ROW Founder, read poetry along side River of Words winning and finalist, Bay Area poets who are featured in the program’s latest anthology, River of Words 2016-2018: The Natural World as Viewed by Young People. 

ROW Coordinator, Maureen Esty, and Director of the Center for Environmental Literacy, Luz Casquejo Johnston, opened with an introduction about ROW’s mission to increase “education for sustainability” by encouraging teachers to integrate science, art, and the written word lessons in the classroom and by guiding students to create art and poetry inspired by homeground environment.

Young poets from the 2018 and 2016-2017 River of Words international art and poetry contest read their award-winning poems as well as some brand new creative works to a audience full of educators, donors, family and friends. Robert Hass closed the presentation with anecdotes about his days as a US Poet Laureate and how his inspiration to empower youth to invest in their watersheds and a sustainable future motivated him back in 1995 to found the River of Words environmental literacy program. Hass shared some of his own poetry as well as poems written by past ROW winners and his wife, eco-poet and SMC professor, Brenda Hillman.

During the reception, attendees helped themselves to food and drink, mingled with Robert Hass and young River of Words poets, and made connections with their ROW team about how they could support River of Words in the future. Thanks to the generosity of Robert Hass, the night concluded with an exciting lottery giveaway, which included art supplies, poetry books, and field atlases - gifts that are sure to excite the ameture in all of us to create imaginative work.