It's time to get creative during Summer Quest 2023!

Poems have historically influenced many of the place names we know today. Many contemporary poets rethink the ties between language, place and belonging. This activity highlights issues of place-naming in America, particularly its historical ties to colonization. It draws on current topics in geography, poetry, journalism, and media-making.

We'll start with local maps of the communities in which we live. From there, the sky's the limit! You can:

• Create a poem inspired by the shape of a street on your map.
• Create a poem out of the words on your map.
• Create a poem by blanking out street names and renaming them on your map.
• Use your art skills to color code the poem on your map.

At the end of the night, we'll share our work with each other, since our library community is a safe space for all present.