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Kelly Writers House

Beyond America’s racial fault line
Ben Jealous listens to Camille Charles talk at a Kelly Writers House event

Ben Jealous listens to Camille Z. Charles at Kelly Writers House.

(Image: Krista Patton)

Beyond America’s racial fault line

Professor of practice Ben Jealous discussed race, politics, America’s long history of interracial collaboration, and his new book with Camille Z. Charles during a co-sponsored event at Kelly Writers House.

Kristina García

Building a better world, one side gig at a time
Young children practice ballet at a barre in a ballet studio.

Building a better world, one side gig at a time

The 10th piece for this series showcases a nurse who founded a low-cost dance studio, a staffer who fosters kittens, an HR specialist who teaches high schoolers life skills, and an English professor who volunteers for his old summer camp.

Michele W. Berger, Katherine Unger Baillie

Mother and son who are both poet laureates work to inspire others
PBS NewsHour

Mother and son who are both poet laureates work to inspire others

A profile examines the poetic accolades of College of Arts and Sciences fourth-year Wes Matthews and his mother Airea D. Matthews, including their involvement with Kelly Writers House.

Kelly Writers House celebrates 25th anniversary
Hidden City Philadephia

Kelly Writers House celebrates 25th anniversary

A profile examines the history and influence of Kelly Writers House as it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, with quotes from Al Filreis of the School of Arts & Sciences.

Poet Wes Matthews combines writing, music, research, and service
Wes Matthews leaning in a doorway at the Kelly Writers House

Matthews says he plans to write poetry throughout his life, and hopes someday to collaborate on a poem or book with his mother. 

Poet Wes Matthews combines writing, music, research, and service

College fourth-year Wes Matthews is combining writing, music, research, and service during his Penn experience. A former Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, the anthropology major and religious studies minor works at the Kelly Writers House and is a Wolf Humanities Center fellow.
ModPo celebrates its first decade
Al Filreis holds up the Book "The Difference is Spreading" while seated at a long table with four other people to his left and a television screen with the faces of several other people to his right in front of an audience

English Professor Al Filreis holds up a copy of the just-published book “The Difference is Spreading: Fifty Contemporary Poets on Fifty Poems,” during the ModPo webcast to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the free massive online open course Modern and Contemporary Poetry. 

ModPo celebrates its first decade

Modern and Contemporary Poetry was founded by Al Filreis of the School of Arts & Sciences at Kelly Writers House in 2012, and now has 69,000 people enrolled globally. Poets and participants came to campus to celebrate the 10th anniversary.
Cosmic Writers brings free creative writing education to school-aged children 
Manoj Simha and Rowana Miller standing on stairway

May graduates Rowana Miller (right) and Manoj Simha lead Cosmic Writers, a project supported by President’s Engagement Prize that provides free creative writing instruction to K-12 students virtually throughout the world, taught by college students. The new nonprofit is expanding to offer in-person workshops in Philadelphia and several other U.S. cities.

Cosmic Writers brings free creative writing education to school-aged children 

May graduates Rowana Miller and Manoj Simha lead Cosmic Writers, a project supported by President’s Engagement Prize that provides free creative writing instruction to K-12 students virtually throughout the world.
Rounding the bases and finding home at the Kelly Writers House
Doug Glanville sitting at table speaking at microphone gesturing with his hands

Former Major League Baseball centerfielder Doug Glanville (right) spoke about his life and career with students as a Kelly Writers House Fellow, in a seminar created and taught by English Professor Al Filreis and during a public reading and discussion. A 1992 Penn graduate, Glanville is now an author, columnist, professor, and sports broadcaster. 

Rounding the bases and finding home at the Kelly Writers House

Former Major League Baseball centerfielder Doug Glanville spoke with students about his life and career in the seminar created and taught by English Professor Al Filreis and during a public reading and conversation.
From the page to the stage
students performing on stage

(Homepage image) Five students portray Dohhkin Rai, a tiger demon that convinces villain Dhona to sacrifice his own nephew in exchange for riches from the forest. “There’s a lot being said about the nature of lust and greed, about forgiveness, and about the bonds between parent and child, human and non-human, and the Earth and those who dwell on it,” Sethi says.

From the page to the stage

In collaboration with author Amitav Ghosh, musician Ali Sethi, and Penn’s Brooke O’Harra, 14 students brought to life a parable Ghosh wrote about the world’s largest mangrove forest, human greed, and the environment.

Michele W. Berger