HONORING THE ELOQUENCE OF EACH VOICE

Verandah developed a practice to create, preserve, and share personal literature with those who need a writing partner. She listens, probes, and records the told poetry or shared narrative of a diverse community. Verandah has created these collaborative writing projects in literacy and crisis centers, hospitals, factories, nursing homes, senior centers, a 200-year-old Vermont tavern, and an urban working-class neighborhood.

HIRE A POET AS A GUIDING SCRIBE

• CELEBRATE YOUR COMMUNITY
Verandah facilitates creation and distills language with each participant in residencies of one week to a year. Plan together to design a unique project unearthing diverse experiences of community members. Produce ananthology, performance, or exhibition.

• CREATE A COMMUNITY AT A CONFERENCE OR GATHERING
Verandah is available to open conferences with a powerful, easy icebreaker: told poetry. Participants befriend one another by watching and engaging in listening, writing, and sharing.

Communities in Vermont can apply to the Vermont Arts Council for matching funds.
http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/tabid/722/Default.aspx

Arts and Healing projects in New Hampshire may apply to the New Hampshire State Arts Council
http://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/partners/artsinhealthcare.htm

Comments from a Vermont Arts Council panel reviewing Verandah's work:

"She puts this light onto each person, with so much appreciation and honor. Now you see that everyone is extraordinary."

"...the interview situation melts away, people start talking to her from the heart."

"Verandah sees our living, breathing communities and people as American masterpieces."

"She's 'no fail'. You put her anywhere and she works." –Greg Sharrow, Vermont Folklife Center

Sylvia Moss Solomon, gifted pianist and world traveler, was a resident at Linden Lodge, a nursing home in Brattleboro, Vermont. Here she talks with Verandah about her rich past.