Massachusetts Statewide Poetry Calendar

Readings by 3 poets, in 3 languages, featuring:

Ines Figueroa (Spanish)
Ines came to the United States in 1956 from Puerto Rico where she settled with her family in Newark New Jersey. In the early sixties, she married and had four daughters unfortunately during that period in her life she suffered from spousal abuse. At that, time there was nowhere to escape her surroundings and she suffered in silence. She finally summoned the courage to leave her husband and in 1984 found her way to Brockton with her daughters. Since then Ines has dedicated all her time educating the community about domestic violence and sexual assault. Ines graduated from Massasoit College in Human Service and from Boston University for Social Work. Ines has received numerous awards and in 1997, was named woman of the year for her contribution to the Hispanic Community.

Philip Hasouris (Greek)
A proud Brockton Poet and author of three books of poetry, Philip is the poetry coordinator and host of the Brockton Library Poetry Series, “Everyone Has a Voice.” He is also the poetry coordinator for the art/poetry exhibit "Soar without Limits, Healing through the Arts," bringing together, artists with disabilities and poets who, inspired by their artwork, create poetry, validating the artist. He is a facilitator of expressive healing workshops throughout the state for support groups coping with medical crisis and bereavement.
Zvi A. Sesling (Yiddish)
Poet Laureate of Brookline, MA. Zvi has published poetry in numerous magazines both in print and online in many countries. He has been nominated four times for a Pushcart Prize and was awarded First Prize in the Reuben Rose International Poetry Competition. He was the 2019 Feature Reader at the 10th Brookline Jewish Poetry Festival. His poetry book The Lynching of Leo Frank was nominated for the National Jewish Book Award. He is also the author of War Zones, Fire Tongue, King of the Jungle and three chapbooks, Simple Game, Poems From Hell and Across Stones of Bad Dream. Zvi has taught at Boston University , Emerson College and Suffolk University.