Some good reasons I’m writing to support immigrants and refugees right now…

… and how you can help

Hello friends,

Despite having a plate overflowing with projects. Despite this pandemic. Not to mention the election:

I have signed on to write 30 Poems in November (that’s 30 poems in 30 days!). Why?

REASON #1: It’s hard to resist such a good cause and such a creative fundraiser:

Each year poets from the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts are invited to participate in this month-long literary equivalent of a charity road race for the Center for New Americans (CNA), a local organization that supports immigrants in our communities. Every day in November writers compose poems while friends and family make donations to encourage their efforts. The funds raised support CNA’s free English classes for immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

For the past several years I’ve sat on the sidelines, donating to other poets, while keeping my own pen capped. But this year, I couldn’t resist because …

REASON #2: I feel an urgency and a desire to marry poetry, dreams, and meaning now more than ever.

So there you have it: Two reasons to write 30 Poems in November. Then today I came up with 28 more.

(See my complete list of 30 Reasons to Write 30 Poems in November below.)

In the meantime, you can learn more about the Center for New Americans HERE. If you’d like to support my participation in this month-long poem-a-thon, just CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

With hope and dreams,

ABOUT POEM #1 of 30

During a meeting of 34 of the women and men who will be writing 30 Poems in support of the Center for New Americans this November, each participant shared a few words about why they are taking on this literary and fundraising challenge. I took some notes (and I took a small bit of poetic license) and created this poem from the poets’ words.

30 Reasons to Write 30 Poems in November

a found poem in the voices of 30+ participating writers

by Tzivia Gover

Because I write. Because I am a ghostwriter. Because I write

fiction, so writing poems is like cross-training for me. Because

I’ve been writing since I was 16. Because

I’m writing haiku every day.

I’m writing 30 poems because.

Because English for immigrants. Because they need language

and poets need language.

Because I’m an immigrant.

Because I volunteer. Because

I’m a lawyer. Because I’m an activist.

Because I’m nervous about fundraising.

Because I want to turn poems into cash

for a cause. Because I was too worn out

and tired. Because After the 2016 election. Because

this makes me feel hopeful,

and not much makes me feel hopeful these days.

Because in November.

Because this gives me discipline.

Because community.

Because I’m excited. Because … on a whim.

Because I work with a young man from Uganda.

Because I was driving a young immigrant to her classes.

Because we can hold each other accountable.

Because I fell in love

with what happens in these classrooms.

Because doing this feels like walking on ice.

Because ICE.

Because we were all new Americans once.

Because poetry. Because liberty.

Because that is my prayer. For all.

This poem is part of my effort to write 30 poems in November for the Center for New Americans to support their excellent programming for immigrants and refugees. CLICK HERE to sponsor me as I pen 30 poems this month, and donate to a very good cause!