SUNY Adirondack joins global 100 Thousand Poets movement

QUEENSBURY, New York (Sept. 20, 2021) — SUNY Adirondack joins the worldwide 100 Thousand Poets for Change celebration with events Sept. 23 and 24.

100 Thousand Poets for Change is an 11-year-old global grassroots movement to invite and celebrate social change through the arts. Founded on the ideal of changing how we see local and global communities, the mission is to unite poets, writers, musicians, artists and activists to create, perform, educate and demonstrate. 

“We hardly know our neighbors down the street, let alone our creative allies in other countries,” founders Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion wrote in 2011. “We need to feel this kind of global solidarity.”

With a vision to tackle political and social change, peace and sustainability, the movement has grown to stretch across the globe.

At SUNY Adirondack, the Creative Writing program invites students to read original poetry at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Student Center. At 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, published poets will read their works centered on themes of sustainability, peace, equity and social justice via Zoom.

This is the college’s eighth year participating.

“We’re delighted to bring the college and community event back this year,” said Kathleen McCoy, professor of English at the college. “The themes of 100 Thousand Poets for Change have never been more timely, and they show how beautifully the literary arts can align with the college’s initiatives regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability and social justice.”

The events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Masks are required on campus.

To get the Zoom link, contact McCoy at mccoyk@sunyacc.edu. Learn more about the global initiative at 100tpc.org.