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Weeklong focus on indigenous languages
About 50 people gathered together some in indigenous clothing.

Américo Mendoza-Mori (second row, fourth from left), founder of The Quechua Program at Penn, organized Indigenous Language Week at Penn. 

Weeklong focus on indigenous languages

As part of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, campus groups have organized the Indigenous Languages Week Celebration, supported by a grant from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation Foundation.

Louisa Shepard

Revealing ‘storytelling pockets’ in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright
Paul Hendrickson speaking at a podium in front of a seated crowd, his arms outstretched, with a photo of a house on the screen behind him.

Paul Hendrickson, a senior lecturer in Penn’s English Department since 1998, speaks at Kelly Writers House about his new book examining the life of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Wright-designed B. Harley Bradley House pictured is on the street where Hendrickson grew up in Kankakee, Illinois. 

Revealing ‘storytelling pockets’ in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright

Paul Hendrickson’s new book, “Plagued by Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright,” brought him full-circle to the famed architect of his childhood in Illinois.

Louisa Shepard

Syrian journalist to speak in Penn’s ‘Writer at Risk’ weeklong visiting fellow program
Zaina Erhaim

Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim, now living in exile in the United Kingdom, is visiting Penn through the Writer at Risk program. 

Syrian journalist to speak in Penn’s ‘Writer at Risk’ weeklong visiting fellow program

Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim will visit Penn to discuss the armed conflict in Syria, the importance of an independent press, and the challenges of working in war-torn areas for female journalists. 

Louisa Shepard

Kelly Writers House chairs are more than just a place to sit
Top of the back of a wooden chair with newspaper articles and photos pasted on.

The Kelly Writers House has crowdsourced its chairs from the community. Some chairs are decorated based on a theme, including one that features photos and articles about benefactor Paul Kelly. 

Kelly Writers House chairs are more than just a place to sit

Even the chairs at Kelly Writers House have stories to tell. The mismatched wooden seats came from the community, intentionally given to become part of Writers House everyday history.

Louisa Shepard

A life of writing and song
Rosanne Cash speaking at microphone at table with professor Al Filreis looking at her and smiling.

Singer-songwriter and author Rosanne Cash (left) met with students at the Kelly Writers House as part of the Fellows program, now in its 20th year. She made two public appearances, including a discussion with Al Filreis (right), English professor and Writers House faculty director.  

A life of writing and song

Rosanne Cash, a Kelly Writers House Fellow, was on campus for a course taught by English Professor Al Filreis that focuses on three eminent writers each spring semester.  

Louisa Shepard

Writers House reborn
microphone at kelly writers house

Writers House reborn

Renovations were recently completed at Kelly Writers House to expand its premier Arts Cafe and make the space more technologically friendly.
Healing with words, through writing workshops for cancer patients
Deborah Burnham sits in Kelly Writers House, surrounded by wooden chairs

Deborah Burnham of the English department leads each Writing a Life workshop held at the Kelly Writers House. 

Healing with words, through writing workshops for cancer patients

Writing a Life, organized by the Abramson Cancer Center and held at Kelly Writers House each month, provides such patients the opportunity to creatively examine and express their experiences.

Jacob Williamson-Rea

‘Near/Miss’ Penn professor Charles Bernstein publishes new poetry collection
Charles Bernstein at his desk in his office with a colorful painting by his wife on the wall behind him

Penn English Professor Charles Bernstein has just published his 15th book of poetry, "Near/Miss." 

  • Q&A

    • ‘Near/Miss’ Penn professor Charles Bernstein publishes new poetry collection

    The poetry in Charles Bernstein’s just-published collection, “Near/Miss,” defies convention in language and form. This is his 15th book of poetry.

    Louisa Shepard

    Best seller: author and alum Jennifer Egan to teach spring semester literature course
    "Jennifer Egan headshot"

    Author and journalist Jennifer Egan, a Penn alumna, will teach an English literature course in the spring semester as an artist-in-residence in the School of Arts and Sciences. (Photo by Pieter M. Van Hattem.)

    Best seller: author and alum Jennifer Egan to teach spring semester literature course

    Best-selling author and journalist Jennifer Egan, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, will teach a literature course at Penn in the spring as an artist-in-residence.

    Louisa Shepard

    Writing with purpose
    Lorene Cary leading a discussion in her safekids class

    Writing with purpose

    Students in Lorene Cary’s creative writing course focus on voting, midterm elections, and exploring the big questions of their generation.

    Louisa Shepard