PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At Hotel on North on Friday, June 23 at noon, nine Crosby Educational Academy fifth-

graders will celebrate their graduation with a poetry reading of original work and the unveiling of 60 poetry tree tags on North Street. 

 

"Writing poetry has been such an empowering experience for our students. It gives them confidence in their academics and lets them know, Yes, I am smart, yes I can do this," said Tracy Kelleher, Dean of Students of Crosby Academy.

 

Over the past school year, Crosby Educational Academy fourth and fifth graders wrote poetry every week as part of The Mastheads' poetry-in-schools program, Fireside, which provides poetry workshops for Pittsfield Public School students.

 

"Poetry allows students to understand that writing is a powerful, creative tool that they have control over, and that will always be with them; it is a medium they can use to make art, to process their daily lives and experiences, to learn with, to have fun with," said Sarah Trudgeon, literary director of The Mastheads.

 

The event will take place in the grand hall of the hotel.

 

Corresponding with the event, the Mastheads will celebrate the placement of sixty poetry "tree tags"

that will line the trees of North Street. 

 

"The poetry tree tags celebrate our street trees, our downtown walking loop, and the voices of Pittsfield kids," said Tessa Kelly, cofounder of the Mastheads. "We chose North Street because it is Pittsfield's primary pedestrian experience for both residents and visitors to the city, and also because of its central location to our three student bodies - sandwiched between Morningside and the Westside."

 

Crosby Educational Academy, located on West Street in Pittsfield, is a therapeutic day program for

students from Pittsfield Public schools. 

 

"It has been great to see the students grow professionally and personally. Their growth has been like vines: once attached to a support system they can grow and expand despite any possible boundary in their way." Nathan Reed, 5th grade teacher at Crosby Academy.

 

This event was curated by the Mastheads and is sponsored by Hotel on North, the Blackwing Foundation, and MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative. 

 

"TDI amplifies resident voices and the qualities that make this place uniquely Pittsfield. We are honored to support these students in stepping up and the Mastheads contributions to public art, empowering young people and community," said Julie Copoulos, TDI Fellow for MassDevelopment.