Community in Verse: Hostos Celebrates Third Annual Peace & Poetry Event

 
In the spirit of Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda’s reminder that “Poetry is an act of peace,” Hostos Community College once again gathered in celebration of unity, reflection, and creative expression at its Third Annual Peace & Poetry event, held on Tuesday, December 9, in a packed Savoy Multipurpose Room. At a time when uncertainty shapes the world beyond the campus walls, the Hostos community came together to reaffirm the power of words to heal, to connect, and to inspire.
 
President Daisy Cocco De Filippis opened the gathering with thoughtful reflections about the role of art and community in moments of challenge and hope, offering remarks that resonated deeply throughout the room. Speaking to a room filled with writers and listeners, she reflected on the spiritual core of the day, noting that “poetry is the language of human beings speaking to each other, using their mind and their hearts to share concerns and not to be afraid to reveal their fears, their joys, their hopes.”
   
Her words were followed by Sarah Key, Poet in Residence at the Writing Center, who stepped forward to welcome the poets and honor their work. As she spoke about the power of authentic expression in an age of technology, she offered a resonant insight: “The antidote to AI is found in these real words. Let's call it EI, Emotional Intelligence.” With this, she reminded the audience that poetry is not simply written; it is felt, lived, and shared, binding people together in ways no machine can replicate.
 
This year’s gathering featured three distinguished poets whose voices brought depth, cultural richness, and emotional resonance to the celebration: scholar and poet Deborah Paredez (Columbia University), Hostos Professor Juan Soto-Franco, and Puerto Rican poet Yarisa Colón Torres (Bronx Community College). Their readings illuminated themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and the persistent human yearning for peace.
   
Guiding the occasion with warmth and clarity were Michelle Lee St. Marthe, Associate Director to the Chief of Staff; Key; Elizabeth Porter, English Professor and Director of the Writing Center; and Sofía Oviedo, Research Programs Director. Their stewardship created a welcoming atmosphere in which each voice, whether seasoned or emerging, felt held and honored.
   
Perhaps the most powerful testament to the collective spirit of the event was the remarkable participation from the community: more than 20 poets — students, faculty, and staff — shared original poems as well as cherished works by their favorite authors. Their contributions, varied in tone and style, wove together a vibrant tapestry of perspectives, each piece adding nuance and texture to the shared pursuit of understanding and unity. As readers stepped forward one by one, the room swelled with emotion, laughter, quiet contemplation, and moments of profound connection.
   
As the afternoon drew to a close, the third Peace & Poetry event stood as a testament to Hostos’ enduring belief in the power of words to cultivate empathy and peace. Through every poem shared, every voice heard, and every moment of connection, the Hostos community reaffirmed that even in uncertain times, poetry provides a path toward understanding, and a space where hope can take root.
   
With support from Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, participants enjoyed lunch and received a small token of appreciation, a reminder of the value the College places on artistic expression and communal storytelling.