Poet and speaker José Olivarez addressed attendees of an annual forum themed after ‘Bridging the Divide.’
Author and poet José Olivarez spoke at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Diversity Forum on Wednesday as the second keynote speaker of the two-day event.
The event was themed “Bridging the Divide,” a nod to the university’s goal of “engaging in constructive dialogue” across differences and creating community, according to the forum’s website.
Olivarez read and performed his poems, which touched on topics such as his identity as the son of Mexican immigrants and his upbringing in Chicago’s southern suburbs. Olivarez also discussed his love of poetry and art as well as his experiences with education and schooling.
Olivarez’s first poetry collection, “Citizen Illegal,” won the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize.
Olivarez began his talk by encouraging audience members to participate audibly in his poetry reading by laughing, clapping and snapping.
“Poetry is alive,” Olivarez said. “It is not something that you just listen to, but it is something that you speak back to.”...
The event was themed “Bridging the Divide,” a nod to the university’s goal of “engaging in constructive dialogue” across differences and creating community, according to the forum’s website.
Olivarez read and performed his poems, which touched on topics such as his identity as the son of Mexican immigrants and his upbringing in Chicago’s southern suburbs. Olivarez also discussed his love of poetry and art as well as his experiences with education and schooling.
Olivarez’s first poetry collection, “Citizen Illegal,” won the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize.
Olivarez began his talk by encouraging audience members to participate audibly in his poetry reading by laughing, clapping and snapping.
“Poetry is alive,” Olivarez said. “It is not something that you just listen to, but it is something that you speak back to.”...
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- - Volume: 11 - WEEK: 46 Date: 11/16/2023 10:41:44 PM -