Holyoke community members gathered at Wistariahurst Museum on Wednesday, August 14, to celebrate the publication of Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project. Students Jess Rivera, Alexandra Rosa, and Gri Martinez Saex read excerpts from the book before answering questions about the Clemente Course. Pam Thompson, director of Clemente Holyoke, moderated the Q&A panel.
Rivera read the introduction of her essay “Danger,” which details the harsh living conditions she experienced growing up in Springfield public housing. Following the reading, Rivera emphasized the need to find one’s voice.
“Start writing your narrative so that whatever you do in this world can echo somewhere, for someone,” she said.
Saex read her poem “Among Mountains,” which details her memories of her hometown, Las Matas de Farfán, in the Dominican Republic. Following the reading, Saex shared that the Clemente Course played a major role in helping her find her voice and being comfortable with her multicultural identity.
“I felt like I always had to hide as an immigrant,” she said, “but with this story, I went back, and I felt very proud, and remembered what my town is like.”
Rosa shared “I Am My Hair,” a poem that celebrates the interconnectedness of her Afro Latina identity and her hair. One of the lines in the final stanza reads: “It’s what makes her who she is—Unapologetic!”
In the Q&A panel following the readings, Rosa spoke directly to the students in the room attending Bard Microcollege or Clemente Course classes. Her message was one of self-affirmation.
“Writing is such a therapeutic and healthy way to express yourself,” she said. “Make your journey yours. Don’t make it about anybody else. This is about you. This is about your struggles. This is about where you are in life, and where you want to be.”
You can purchase a copy of Clementinos through the UMass Press website.
