GOA Goes to Dodge Poetry Festival

By Daniel Shapiro ’23
Golda Och Academy students attended the Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, NJ this Fall. This event is hosted by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and hosts many poetry related activities.

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“It was refreshing to meet so many inspiring poets and musicians,” said senior Sam Zaslow-Braverman. “I felt enriched and compelled to improve my art.”
The festival originally began in 1986 as an initiative of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and included the Dodge Poetry Festival and the Dodge Poetry-in-the-Schools program, both of which eventually combined to form the modern Dodge Poetry Program.
The first event that students attended was a seminar on Eco-Poetry.
“The eco-poetry seminar was mind expanding. The speakers shared some beautiful insights about the use of the world around us for poetry, and we got to hear a few of their excellent pieces.” said Zaslsow-Braverman.
The event also hosted a variety of Q&As, with various poets speaking on their craft and how they utilize poetry.
“It was a fun trip with a great group of students. I particularly enjoyed hearing two of our GOA students perform their original poetry during the open reading session,” said language arts teacher Mrs. Godin.
GOA students shared their poems at one of several open readings being held at the festival.
The event was more than just written poetry, with musical presentations also being held, one of which was attended by our visiting students. 
“I felt like I learned a lot about poetry and poets and the art of expression through words. It was wonderful to be in a place where so many people were interested in learning about the same thing.” said senior Isabelle Zellan.