Glaisma Perez Silva has muses that inspire her poetry – her identity as a black Puerto Rican woman, her migration from Puerto Rico, the things she sees around her.
When the muses speak, Perez Silva is ready to listen. An idea will arrive and Glaisma will grab whatever she has at hand – even a napkin will work under the right circumstances – to get her thoughts down.
“That’s why sometimes you have to take advantage of the moment or it will disappear and you will say, ‘what was that?’ It is difficult to catch it, or it will come in a different form,” she said. “Once you learn to identify the magic of the moment, the words will flow.”
Perez Silva, a long time Hartford educator, will share her poetry at Hartford Public Library’s Revolutionary Latinas performance, taking place Thursday, March 18 from 7 to 8 pm on HPL’s Facebook and YouTube pages. She will be collaborating with a musician and dancer on a piece about Latina identity, she said.
An educator for the past 40 years, Perez Silva came to Hartford from Puerto Rico in 1988 as part of one of the city’s last bilingual teacher recruitment efforts. “I did not realize I was a poet until I came to Hartford and started feeling the loneliness of being away from my homeland and my family,” she said. “It depends on the circumstances to provoke the muse.”
At first, Perez Silva kept her poetry to herself, ashamed of sharing her words. She branched out slowly, offering her work to a couple of close friends. “When you are sharing your poetry, you are sharing an intimate part of yourself,” Perez-Silva said.
The friends decided to take the leap and present their poetry for a small invited audience. One step at time, the gatherings got bigger, until Perez Silva was part of public performances all around Hartford. “For years I have been evolving in different ways,” she said.
Glaisma writes and performs in Spanish, her native language. It’s important to her to create that way, a small act of cultural rebellion she proudly engages in. She said that when writing in Spanish her voice becomes more concrete and assertive. Her poetry can be demanding and patriotic, and then shift to a tender, mellow, sexy tone.
She is proud of her cultural heritage and deeply respects the way writer Julia Alvarez has represented the uniqueness of the Dominican culture in “In the Time of the Butterflies. “There is a common language, but there are also differences that are unique and make us proud of our homelands,” she said.
By Steven Scarpa, manager of communications and public relations
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It started with Patria wanting to be a nun. Mamá was all for having a religion in the family, but Papá did not approve in the least. More than once, he said that Patria as a nun would be a waste of a pretty girl. He only said that once in front of Mamá, but he repeated it often enough to me.
Finally, Papá gave in to Mamá. He said Patria could go away to a convent school if it wasn’t one just for becoming a nun. Mamá agreed.
So, when it came time for Patria to go down to Inmaculada Concepción, I asked Papa if I could go along. That way I could chaperone my older sister, who was already a grown-up señorita. (And she had told me all about how girls become senoritas, too.)
Papa laughed, his eyes flashing proudly at me. The others said I was his favorite. I don’t know why since I was the one always standing up to him. He pulled me to his lap and said, “And who is going to chaperone you?”
“Dedé,” I said, so all three of us could go together. He pulled a long face. “If all my little chickens go, what will become of me?”
I thought he was joking, but his eyes had their serious look. “Papá,” I informed him, “you might as well get used to it. In a few years, we’re all going to marry and leave you.”
For days he quoted me, shaking his head sadly and concluding, “A daughter is a needle in the heart.”
Mama didn’t like him saying so. She thought he was being critical because their only son had died a week after he was born. And just three years ago, Maria Teresa was bom a girl instead of a boy. Anyhow, Mama didn’t think it was a bad idea to send all three of us away. “Enrique, those girls need some learning. Look at us.” Mamá had never admitted it, but I suspected she couldn’t even read.
“What’s wrong with us?” Papá countered, gesturing out the window where wagons waited to be loaded before his warehouses. In the last few years, Papá had made a lot of money from his farm. Now we had class. And, Mama argued, we needed the education to go along with our cash.
Papa caved in again, but said one of us had to stay to help mind the store. He always had to add a little something to whatever Mamá came up with. Mama said he was just putting his mark on everything so no one could say Enrique Mirabal didn’t wear the pants in his family.
I knew what he was up to all right. When Papa asked which one of us would stay as his little helper, he looked directly at me.
I didn’t say a word. I kept studying the floor like maybe my school lessons were chalked on those boards. I didn’t need to worry. Dedé always was the smiling little miss. “I’ll stay and help, Papá.”
Papá looked surprised because really Dedé was a year older than me. She and Patria should have been the two to go away. But then, Papá thought it over and said Dedé could go along, too. So it was settled, all three of us would go to Inmaculada Concepción. Me and Patria would start in the fall, and Dedé would follow in January since Papá wanted the math whiz to help with the books during the busy harvest season.
And that’s how I got free. I don’t mean just going to sleepaway school on a train with a trunkful of new things. I mean in my head after I got to Inmaculada and met Sinita and saw what happened to Lina and realized that I’d just left a small cage to go into a bigger one, the size of our whole country.” (page 11-13)
###
Empezó con Patria que quería ser monja. Mamá estaba entusiasmada con tener una religiosa en la familia, pero papá no aprobaba la idea. Más de una vez dijo que Patria monja sería un desperdicio, pues era muy bonita. Sólo lo dijo una vez delante de mamá, pero a mí me lo repitió muchas veces.
Por fin, papá cedió. Dijo que Patria podía ir a la escuela religiosa si no era sólo un convento. Mamá estuvo de acuerdo.
Así que cuando llegó el momento de que Patria fuera a la Inmaculada Concepción, le pregunté a papá si yo también podía ir. De esa manera podía acompañar y cuidar a mi hermana mayor, que ya era una señorita. (Y me había contado cómo las muchachas se hacen señoritas)
Papá se rió, y se le iluminaron los ojos de orgullo. Las otras decían que yo era su favorita. No sé por qué, pues yo era la única que le hacía frente. Me sentó en su falda
-¿y quién te cuidará a tí?-me preguntó.
-Dedé- dije, para que las tres fuéramos juntas. Él puso la cara larga.
-Si todas mis pollitas se van, ¿qué será de mí?
Pensé que estaba bromeando, pero estaba serio.
-Papá- le informé- es mejor que te acostumbres. En unos cuantos años todas nos casaremos y nos iremos.
Durante días citó mis palabras, meneando la cabeza.
-una hija es una espina en el corazón.
-A mamá no le gustaba que dijera eso. Pensaba que lo decía porque su único hijo había muerto a la semana de nacer. Y hacía sólo tres años había nacido otra niña, María Teresa, y no un varón. De todos modos, mamá no pensaba que era una mala idea enviarnos a las tres a la escuela.
– Enrique, estas niñas necesitan educación. Fíjate en nosotros.-Mamá nunca lo había admitido, pero yo sospechaba que no sabía leer.
-¿qué hay de malo con nosotros?- con un ademán papá señaló la ventana, a través de la cual se veían los carros que esperaban su carga frente a nuestro depósito. En los últimos años, papá había ganado mucho dinero con su granja. Ahora teníamos clase. Y, argumentaba mamá, necesitábamos una buena educación para acompañar nuestra fortuna.
Papá volvió a ceder, pero aclaró que una de nosotras debía quedarse para ayudar con la tienda. Siempre debía agregar algo a lo que decía mamá. Según mamá, lo hacía para que nadie dijera que Enrique Mirabal no era el que llevaba los pantalones en la familia.
Yo me di cuenta muy bien de lo que se proponía. Cuando papá nos preguntó cuál de nosotras se quedaría como su ayudante, me miró directamente a mí.
Yo no dije ni una palabra. Seguí estudiando el piso como si las lecciones de la escuela estuvieran escritas en la madera. No necesitaba preocuparme. Dedé siempre se esforzaba por complacer.
-Yo me quedaré a ayudar, papá
-Papá se mostró sorprendido porque de hecho Dedé era un año mayor que yo. Ella y Patria eran las que debían ir. Pero papá lo pensó mejor y dijo que Dedé también podía ir. Así que quedó arreglado: las tres iríamos a la Inmaculada Concepción. Patria y yo empezaríamos en el otoño, y Dedé se nos reuniría en enero, pues quería que la luz en matemática lo ayudara con los libros durante la atareada estación de la cosecha.
Y así fue como quedé en liberta. No me refiero al hecho de que fui en tren, con un baúl lleno de cosas nuevas, como pupila a una escuela. Quiero decir en mi mente, cuando llegué a la Inmaculada y conocí a Sinita y vi lo que le pasaba a Lina y me di cuenta de que acababa de abandonar una jaula pequeña para entrar en una más grande, del tamaño de nuestro país.» (11-13)
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Sarahí Almonte Caraballo
In some ways, becoming a poet was Sarahí Almonte Caraballo’s destiny.
Sarahí is the 33rd of Juana Rivera’s 46 grandchildren. Rivera wrote a little poem on the last page of Caraballo’s baby album.
“I read that poem as a kid and I fell in love with it because, first of all, it’s a poem about you. Right? I remember as a kid knowing that this was something she wrote and I felt special. I loved the way it sounded,” Sarahí said.
At the age of six, her aunt gave her a Hello Kitty journal. Using the letters of Sarahí’s name to start each line, her aunt wrote a poem in the notebook.
With those two anointings, Caraballo’s poetic path was set.
“That’s how I fell in love with poetry,” said Caraballo, who works as a nurse and lives in Wallingford. “I tried to dabble in a little bit of everything but I consider myself primarily a poet and then essayist. Someone said to me a long time ago that I was really good at keeping things short. I like to tell the story and get to the point quicker. I’m not really long-winded so you won’t get a trilogy out of me.”
Sarahí will be interviewing bestselling writer Julia Alvarez on March 25 to conclude the month-long NEA Big Read celebration. “Every Latinx writer knows Julia Alvarez. Julia’s books were the first books that you found that were written by somebody who looked like you, sounded like you, and who had stories that you literally could relate to,” Almonte said.
Caraballo is excited at the prospect of interviewing Alvarez. She’s doing research on Alvarez’s work, looking at previous interviews, and polling her writer friends seeking for questions that will prompt a real conversation.
“I want to ask her everything from, what brought you to writing to what’s the thing that keeps you writing?” she said.
It’s a question that Sarahí herself has a good answer for.
As a teenager, Sarahí started reading poetry. She began writing it shortly thereafter.
Caraballo believes that writing is an act of self-definition. Being published isn’t what’s important. It’s a matter of being willing to pick up a pen every day. “We just need to keep telling our story. If you’re writing in a journal, you’re still writing. If you’re writing on napkins, you’re still writing. Nobody can tell you if you’re a writer but yourself. You don’t need that validation from anyone,” she said.
Writing was Caraballo’s way of learning more about herself.
“I realized that what I thought I was had a name and back in the day you were either gay or lesbian so I picked lesbian,” she said.
Without yet being able to talk about her sexuality, writing became Caraballo’s way to express this important part of herself. “My journal was the place that I turned to write about everything. I knew it was a safe space,” she said.
Caraballo kept writing because she felt that the stories she was reading didn’t reflect her life experience. “Our stories have been either told by others or they’ve been somehow morphed into something that they are not. I realized that our voices need to be heard. We needed more people with our stories on the bookshelves because when we go to library, we like to find things that connect us,” she said.
Caraballo might be looking for advice from Alvarez, but her experience writing heartfelt poetry and essays has given her license to offer wisdom to aspiring writers:
“Just keep writing. Be honest in your writing. You don’t need to make things up. You need to just be honest about your writing and what you’re writing about. It’ll show. There will certainly be a connection,” Caraballo said.
– By Steven Scarpa, manager of communications and media relations
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Christopher T. Brown, Albany Branch Library manager and filmmaker
Hartford Public Library announces a new virtual dramatic writing workshop that will give content creators the advice they need to develop their own projects and tell their own stories.
The program, called Talkin’ Drama, will be moderated by Christopher T. Brown, a filmmaker and manager of the Albany Library.
“My passion for storytelling is deeply rooted in my upbringing. Book and films were an important part of my family life. The elders in my family were storytellers who maintained a tradition of oral history to instill morals and values into us as children… All my success as a filmmaker can be traced directly back to my grandmother, her extensive photo albums, and the stories I heard as a child surrounding those pictures,” Brown said.
The program will take place on the last Thursday of every month. Each workshop will feature a guest speaker or panel made up of industry professionals. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for viewers to ask questions of the panelists.
The first workshop, featuring cinematographer Jeremy Royce, is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2021 from Noon – 1 pm on Zoom.
“My plan is to approach everyone that I know in Hollywood who I think could make on impact on the Hartford community to be a guest on Talkin’ Drama. The more I can act as a bridge between Hartford and Hollywood, the better,” Brown said. “The goal is to encourage people to read, and use the library.”
Royce graduated from USC’s school of cinematic arts in 2013. His work has been short-listed for a student Academy Award and nominated for a student Emmy and has earned him multiple awards for directing and cinematography. Jeremy’s debut feature film ‘20 Years of Madness’ premiered at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City where it won the Jury Honorable Mention. Jeremy currently works as an LA based freelance cinematographer and teaches part time at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Artists and creators will discuss the mechanics of dramatic writing as it functions in their career, and discuss benefits and pitfalls of developing content. It will dive into the practical and real issues facing someone as they develop their artistic craft. They will highlight ways teamwork functions in the process of storytelling. In addition, the Talkin’ Drama series will cover the practical aspects of why it is essential to be entrepreneurial within the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry.
Whether you strive to be a content creator, producer, writer, director, playwright, attorney, or entrepreneur, this workshop will help you identify the path towards creating meaningful stories.
Brown, a Hartford native and Trinity College and NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate, was recruited to HPL as a branch manager of Albany in 2020, from Los Angeles. He has also made short films set in Hartford.
“I ran a Talkin’ Drama workshop at Milner Vine Street school in 2019. The program was a huge success, so I thought it was only right I introduce it to HPL adult virtual programming. It could fit within the scope of our virtual limitations. And it gives Hartford natives access to professionals actively working in Hollywood,” Brown said.
In addition to his own films, Brown’s work in the industry spans back to 2006, starting as a script reader for Samuel Goldwyn Films. He was later honored in 2011, with a nomination for a Kennedy Award for a play he’d written entitled, Tough Love. While at New York University, he began working with Spike Lee, working on several projects with him including Michael Jackson Bad25 and Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. Brown was a production assistant on The Birth of a Nation (2016), a producer on the television pilot “Baselines” (2018). And the second unit director on Final Frequency (2019).
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Hartford Public Library books being sent to incarcerated people across the country
Managing extensive collections of print and non-print materials is something that goes on every day at libraries around the world. At the Hartford Public Library, trained library employees are continuously assessing and reviewing new and old materials to keep the collections current, make room for new materials, and make sure our valuable shelf space is being used to its best advantage to provide the information our users want and need.
Deaccessioned books are either sold to raise funds for the library, or distributed throughout the community from the Library on Wheels, Community Collections or Little Free Libraries.
Carol Pugh, a library assistant, has found yet another way for those discarded books to find a good home.
Pugh, a HPL staff member since 2019, has been taking deaccessioned books from the collections and sending them through the Connecticut Prison Book Connection, to people who are incarcerated. Each month Pugh receives about 20 to 25 requests from prisoners, most coming from her home state of Texas, and Florida. There are occasional requests from Connecticut based inmates, she said.
“It’s a great feeling. I absolutely love doing it,” Pugh said.
“Knowing how difficult it can be for prisoners to get their hands on books, let alone books they are interested in, makes what Carol is doing even more meaningful,” said Marie Jarry, HPL’s director of public services.
Depending on what the request is, Pugh is able to send two or three books to each person. She does face some restrictions on what she can share. Hardcover books, for instance, can be banned. Prisons will also limit certain kinds of content.
Despite the roadblocks, there is a desire for books that Pugh can help fulfill.
“A lot of these guys and women don’t read unless they’re locked up,” Pugh said. “With COVID putting most facilities in 24/7 lockdown, this is a way for them to get their mind off of being enclosed in a small cell. They can use their imagination and escape through these books.”
Pugh gets requests for a little bit of everything, but true crime, romance, and self-help books are the most desirable. Some inmates will request thesauruses and rhyming dictionaries to help with their poetry or rap lyrics.
She makes an effort to make sure every request gets fulfilled. For example, the works of author James Patterson are popular, but Pugh might not have access to his titles that particular week. So, she’ll substitute, replacing Patterson with an author likeDavid Baldacci– a read-alike, as she described it. If an inmate’s letter is filled with spelling mistakes or grammar errors, she’ll send along a dictionary too.
Her interest in working with the incarcerated goes back to her days in Texas volunteering at the Travis County Correctional Complex’s library. She saw how the prisoners craved the written word and treated the materials and the library staff members with respect. Pugh also noticed that the library often didn’t have the books the incarcerated people really wanted.
“These people are usually forgotten about. Sending books to them is a is a way for them to know that people really do care. Not just their physical being, but their minds,” Pugh said. “It’s important to me to help them learn and grow and use the time behind bars so they don’t make the same mistakes that got them in there.”
Pugh’s long term aspiration is to work in a prison library. “I’ve always loved libraries. I find them peaceful and you can learn so many different things. You can escape from reality in a good book,” Pugh said.
– By Steven Scarpa, manager of communications and public relations
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Poet Diana Aldrete thinks of her poetry as being like a Polaroid – a moment in time.
She then takes that moment and explores the imagery inside of it, teasing out the feelings. She puts pen to paper, and then tests her words out loud.
If she’s done her job well, she draws the reader and the listener into her world.
Aldrete, a Hartford resident, will be performing an original work in Spanish and English at the opening event of the NEA Big Read on Sunday, February 28 at 3 pm. “Typically when I am writing a poem it only comes out in one language. This one is going to be very interesting,” she said.
Aldrete, a visiting lecturer of language and culture studies at Trinity College, began writing poetry in high school. As first generation American whose parents were born in Mexico and El Salvador, language was a central part of Aldrete’s formative experiences.
“Language is big. It’s huge. And I think that’s what connects my entire work, my entire identity. Spanish language is my first language. My parents spoke to us in Spanish,” Aldrete said.
She was born in the United States, but moved back to Mexico for a time, where she and her family spoke only Spanish. Aldrete returned to the United States, returning to English as her primary language.
“When I took my first Latin American literature class I felt like I returned home. I was reading my language in these beautiful art forms – novels, poetry, and essays – I fell in love with it. It has informed the way I think and the way I write. Using Spanish in my art is an homage to that experience,” she said.
Aldrete has always been a creative person, but it wasn’t until she began teaching literature that she re-engaged with poetry and began thinking of herself as a performer. “I started to get inspired by the poets that I was teaching. Then I would start writing my own poetry and developing my own style,” she said.
“I am a fan of hers. I have taught her for novel in my classes … not only am I a fan of the book, but also what it stands for as far as championing and advocating for women’s rights, especially in times of oppression,” Aldrete said.
The novel tells the story of three sisters, known at The Butterflies, who opposed the dictator Trujillo and paid with their lives. Aldrete believes that the novel has contemporary resonance. “We see this in terms of women’s issues. We saw the Women’s March, women joining together in solidarity to speak out against sexism and oppression in many forms. I think (the novel) really speak to where we are,” she said.
It’s about more than just the story for Aldrete. The way that Alvarez plays with language to evoke the beauty of the Dominican Republic is an inspiration. “It felt familiar to me. Some of the things I remember from living in Mexico. I felt connected to that because of her use of the language. I feel the sensory images. I am really connected to her work because of that,” Aldrete said.
To learn more about Aldrete’s work, visit her here: https://linktr.ee/aldreted
– by Steven Scarpa, manager of communications and public relations
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Hartford Public Library’s staff recently joined the fight against the scourge of Covid-19.
Library staffers worked with the city’s health department to call senior citizens to schedule vaccination at an event held at the Hartford Convention Center. In just under three days, library staff members made about 300 calls and booked appointments for over 60 residents.
“This is the work we do. We link people to the information they need to make informed decisions about all kinds of things in their lives, including health care. Our staff is also adept at helping people navigate sometimes complicated processes, like arranging for a vaccine. We are very excited to help make our city a healthier place,” said Bridget Quinn-Carey, HPL’s president and CEO.
Marie Jarry, HPL’s director of public service, was one of the staff members who help people get access to the Moderna vaccine. Armed with information about the vaccination process, staff members assisted seniors through a system that can be confusing.
“The man I just talked to said he was calling all over the place to try and get an appointment and was so glad that I called him,” Jarry said. “Others are telling their friends that we contacted them so they are calling us looking to book an appointment too. I think it speaks to the need in the city.”
Andrea Figueroa, HPL’s senior executive assistant, made about 100 of the calls herself, speaking to people in both English and Spanish. “I was just going. I didn’t realize how many I’d called,” she said with a laugh.
Many of the seniors she reached struggled with online signup. They might not have been savvy about how to use the internet. Figueroa said people were delighted to get help. “People said we were lifesavers for getting to them at just the right time,” Figueroa said.
Many library staff members found this kind of outreach inspirational – it was a concrete way of combating the very thing that has put life on hold. “We were coming together to help our fellow citizens,” Jarry said.
“It was a good experience,” Figueroa said.
In addition to the outreach efforts, the library has put together a website with the latest information about the virus, prevention measures, and information from the state and city health departments: https://hplct.libguides.com/corona
“People trust us. It’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly,” Quinn-Carey said.
City officials suggest that people who would like to get the vaccine fill out a vaccine interest form, linked in red at the top of HartfordCT.gov.
By Steve Scarpa, manager of public relations and communications
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Courtesy of Andy Hart, Hartford News
Fifty families received much needed groceries thanks to Hartford Public Library’s partnership with Foodshare, which launched last week.
The groceries were distributed at the Barbour Library. Distribution will take place at the branch twice a month, with the next one occurring on Thursday, February 25.
Over the next several food distributions, Barbour Library branch manager Irene Blean plans to build on what she’s already done. Local civic organizations, including Freshplace, which helps with food security planning, and the Chrysalis Center, which provides services for people seeking to transform their lives, were in attendance, signing people up for their offerings.
Courtesy of Andy Hart, Hartford News
As cold as the first distribution day was, people were in good spirits, she said. “People were appreciative of being offered free food. A woman, who works in the Unity Plaza laundromat, planned her lunch break around the distribution,” Blean said. “A community leader said it was a great event.”
Blean’s thinking is both expansive and particular at once. On the one hand she invites organizations to participate that can have wide reaching impact. On the other, she’ll invite a group like CaptionCall, which provides no cost captioned telephones for the hard of hearing because she can think of a specific customer who would benefit from this service.
In addition, Blean arranged for the University of Connecticut to send two student diatectic interns to a distribution event in April and hopes to have a local community college on hand to talk about training certificate programs.
Courtesy of Andy Hart, Hartford News
Blean understands acutely that the Barbour Library, and HPL as a whole, is a beacon in the community. Not only did HPL staff members distribute food, they passed along a bit of hope and some cameraderie. “Some of the men were glad to see a positive event taking place, despite the cold weather. A woman said that it was a chance for her to connect with others she knew,” Blean said.
By Steve Scarpa, manager of communications and public relations
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The Monkey is the Messenger : Meditation and What Your Busy Mind is Trying To Tell You
by Ralph De la Rosa
Offers a range of evidence-based, somatic, and trauma-informed insights and practices drawn from De La Rosa’s study of neuroscience and psychology and his long practice of meditation and yoga, and a remedy for all those who want to meditate but suppose they can’t because they think too much.
The Mindful Day : Practical Ways to Find Focus, Calm, and Joy from Morning to Evening
by Laurie Cameron
For overscheduled professionals looking to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives, this step-by-step guide draws on contemplative traditions, modern neuroscience, and leading psychology to bring peace and focus to the home, in the workplace, and beyond. At the pinnacle of the digital age, it’s hard to imagine packing one more thing into our overwhelmed lives. But new research shows that simple daily exercises can change the way our brains work, improve focus, boost productivity, lift our mood, and help us develop greater resilience. In this enriching book, noted teacher and mindfulness expert Laurie Cameron – a veteran of Google’s Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute – shows how to seamlessly integrate mindfulness practice into your life. Timeless teachings and straightforward exercises designed for busy schedules — from the morning commute to back-to-back meetings to family dinners – show how mindfulness practice can help you navigate any situation with control and clarity. Cameron’s practical wisdom and concrete how-to steps will help you make the most of the present moment, creating a roadmap for inner peace – and a life of deeper purpose and joy”– Provided by publisher.
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics : a 10% Happier How-To Book
by Dan Harris
Harris and Warren present a practical guide to meditation that debunks the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that make many people reluctant to try it. They suggest a range of meditation practices that may lower your blood pressure, mitigate depression and anxiety, and literally rewire key parts of your brain.
by Dan Harris
“I wrote a memoir about a fidgety, skeptical newsman who reluctantly becomes a meditator to deal with his issues – and in the process of publishing it, I occasionally, to my embarrassment, found myself failing to practice what I preach. I was kind of like a dog that soils the rug, and the universe kept shoving my face into it.” In 2014, Dan Harris published his memoir 10% Happier. The book—which describes his reluctant embrace of meditation after a drug problem, an on-air freak-out, and an unplanned “spiritual” journey—became an instant bestseller and Dan, to his own surprise, became a public evangelist for mindfulness. Hoist on My Own Petard is the story of what happens to Dan Harris after the runaway success of his memoir and the lessons he had to (re)learn in the process.
Radical Compassion : Learning to Love Yourself and Your World With the Practice of RAIN
by Tara Brach
Recognize. Allow. Investigate. Nurture. RAIN meditation is a easy-to-learn program that can help practitioners loosen the grip of difficult emotions and limiting beliefs. Brach shares reflections and practices that, over time, can help you feel feeling of unworthiness and teach you to trust your own innate strength and goodness.
By Kristin Neff
Kristin Neff, Ph.D., says that it’s time to “stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind.” Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind offers expert advice on how to limit self-criticism and offset its negative effects, enabling you to achieve your highest potential and a more contented, fulfilled life.More and more, psychologists are turning away from an emphasis on self-esteem and moving toward self-compassion in the treatment of their patients—and Dr. Neff’s extraordinary book offers exercises and action plans for dealing with every emotionally debilitating struggle, be it parenting, weight loss, or any of the numerous trials of everyday living.
How to Do Nothing : Resisting the Attention Economy
by Jenny Odell
A galvanizing critique of the forces vying for our attention–and our personal information–that redefines what we think of as productivity, reconnects us with the environment, and reveals all that we’ve been too distracted to see about ourselves and our world. Nothing is harder to do these days than nothing. But in a world where our value is determined by our 24/7 data productivity … doing nothing may be our most important form of resistance. So argues artist and critic Jenny Odell, who sees our attention as the most precious–and overdrawn–resource we have. Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine our role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress. Far from a simple anti-technology screed or back-to-nature meditation, How to Do Nothing is an action plan for thinking outside of the narratives of efficiency and techno-determinism. Provocative, timely, and utterly persuasive, this book is a four-course meal in the age of Soylent.
by Network for Grateful Living (COR), Nelson, Kristi (INT), Steindl-Rast, Brother David (FRW)
A Network for Grateful Living curates this collection of quotes and reflections aiming to help you discover that the roots of happiness lie in gratefulness. Inspiration from well-known minds such as Maya Angelou, Confucius, and Anne Frank is combined with original reflections and practices that will help you recognize the abundance of everyday opportunities for gratitude and joy. Hand-lettered art makes this beautifully designed collection a gift to treasure, regardless of whether you keep it for yourself or give it to a loved one.
Dare to Lead : Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts
by Brene Brown
Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers. We stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it. We know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations. We lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and artificial intelligence can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start. Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?
by Robert Butera
A step toward peace of mind is a step in the right direction The benefits of meditation are boundless: reduced stress and pain, peace of mind, and an improved sense of resilience. But which style of meditation is right for you? Meditation for Your Life explains the six basic forms of meditation and helps you identify which ones suit you best. Robert Butera, PhD, guides you in establishing a meditation practice based on your person-ality type, life experience, and personal preferences. The six types of meditation are: Breath Visualization Mantra Devotion, prayer, or intentionality Mindfulness Contemplative inquiry Prepare your mind with relaxation exercises, conscious breathing, and positive thinking. Discover the six basic forms of meditation, and identify the techniques that work best for you. Use guided questions, exercises, and journaling to personalize your practice. Learn what steps you can take to stay motivated and consistent over time, and let the benefits of meditation blossom for your entire life.
by Bessel Van Der Kolk
An expert on traumatic stress outlines an approach to healing, explaining how traumatic stress affects brain processes and how to use innovative treatments to reactivate the mind’s abilities to trust, engage others, and experience pleasure.
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Apolina Jerome and fellow students received homework assistance from volunteer tutors from area colleges and universities
When Apolina Jerome came to Hartford with her family from Tanzania in 2016 she didn’t speak English at all. Just a few years later, she found herself on the Dean’s List at Capital Community College.
One of the factors in Apolina’s success was the commitment of one of Hartford Public Library’s volunteers, Carolyn Dorais.
Apolina was a participant in Hartford Public Library’s “Linking Learning, Belonging and Community” After-School English program since its inception in the Spring of 2017. Apolina and 20-30 other high school students came to the Library after school for instruction in English and homework tutoring.
Then, the pandemic hit and the Hartford Schools shifted to distance learning in the spring of 2020.
For many newly arrived students, coupling online classes with the natural growing pains a teenager feels adjusting to a new culture can be too much.
“They’ve helped a lot of students to do what they need to do,” Apolina said.
That’s where the library can help. With funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services and the Nutmeg Foundation, The American Place offers English classes and tutoring sessions to help give these students the extra support they need to be successful. “They need us now more than ever because distance learning is such a challenge,” said Michele Brophy, an instructional specialist at Hartford Public Library.
The American Place’s volunteer tutors are also adapting to the new learning environment caused by the pandemic. Carolyn Dorais has volunteered with The American Place for six years. After a long career in corporate communications, Dorais retired to Hartford and began working as a citizenship coach. Inspired by Brophy’s program, Dorais decided to shift to tutoring high school students.
“It was such a nice community of kids over there. I really liked being a part of it,” she said.
1) Apolina (2nd from the left) attended the 2019 Beyond Words Gala with her classmates and had the opportunity to hear author, Reyna Grande
Even after graduating from Bulkeley High School in 2020, Apolina has maintained close ties with the library. This past Fall, Carolyn met with Apolina via Zoom on a weekly basis to provide her with support in her college classes.
“We were able to provide a laptop to Apolina through the ‘Crossroads to Connectivity’ program. With hard work and determination, and Carolyn’s support, Apolina not only completed her first semester of college, she did so with distinction,” Brophy said.
In addition, Apolina reached out to Carolyn – she needed extra help to keep up with her English during the semester intercession. Carolyn, who wasn’t proficient on Zoom before, immediately agreed. She knew that for many immigrants, the time outside the classroom causes their English language skills to atrophy.
Apolina (center) and classmates on an educational field trip to the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford
Over the college break, Apolina and Carolyn continued their weekly meetings, reading Jason Reynolds’ “Look Both Ways” as a way for Apolina to keep working on her English. “She has a very positive approach. I think she is a very positive person in general. She worked hard and I think one of the keys to her success is that she asks for help when she needs it,” Dorais said.
The hard work on everyone’s part paid off. Apolina made the Dean’s List her first semester with a 3.65 GPA and was named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “I didn’t expect that,” Apolina said. “There’s no words to explain how I feel.”
In a recent interview, Apolina described long term goals that are like most immigrants trying to get a toehold in America – she’d like to get a good job working in an office and perhaps help purchase a home for her family. First thing’s first. Apolina has to meet with Carolyn today to work on an essay for English class.
“I am happy because I am doing something good that will help me later,” Apolina said.
For more information about the work of The American Place, visit tap.hplct.org.
By Steven Scarpa, manager of communications and public relations
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