Obama’s Inauguration Poet To Speak At WestConn

DANBURY — “In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, praise song for walking forward in that light.”

Those words are the last stanza from “Praise Song for the Day,” written by Elizabeth Alexander, the poet who spoke during the inauguration for President Barack Obama. On Wednesday, February 23, Ms Alexander will be at Western Connecticut State University to share her inspiring words. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 pm in Ives Concert Hall, within White Hall on the university’s midtown campus, 181 White Street. A book signing will follow.

Describing Ms Alexander’s work as vivid and colorful, Carolyn Lanier, chief diversity officer in the university’s Multicultural Affairs & Affirmative Action Office, said the poet “makes poetry accessible. I like the word ‘accessible’ for her because she evokes memories and makes connections and people can understand the story she is telling.”

Ms Lanier believes students, faculty, and the public all will benefit from the event, which is designed to celebrate both Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March.

“I hope she piques their interest in poetry and also in learning more about the African American experience,” Ms Lanier said.

Elizabeth Alexander, chairman of the department of African American studies at Yale, is the first recipient of the Alphonse Fletcher Sr Fellowship for work that “contributes to improving race relations in American society and furthers the broad social goals of the US Supreme Court’s Brown v Board of Education decision of 1954.”

She was the 2007 winner of the first Jackson Prize for Poetry, awarded by Poets and Writers. Other awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, two Pushcart Prizes, the George Kent Awards, and a Guggenheim fellowship. Most recently, Ms Alexander was named an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner for her lifetime achievement in poetry.

For more information, contact the office of university relations at 203-837-8486.