MIDDLEBURY — The Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury will join the local chapter of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) to present an important and powerful poetry reading and discussion with Rajnii Eddins on Monday, March 16. Eddins is a Burlington-based poet, author, teacher, facilitator and spoken-word performer. Much of his professional work is aimed at empowering youth through self-expression, as well as addressing white supremacy and the social construct of race for students, educators, professionals and community members in general, from elementary school to academia. Eddins’ poetic voice is honest and strong, with some language probably not suitable for children under 12.
With his latest poetry collection, “Their Names Are Mine,” Eddins aims to travel to every state in America in order to share his craft and hold space for vulnerable dialogue while affirming mutual humanity through shared story. Major Jackson, poetry editor of the Harvard Review and a University of Vermont professor of English, is quoted on the back of Eddins’ book, calling his poems “fiery” and that they “manifest light in all directions.”
The event is from 4-6 p.m. on Monday afternoon and is open to the public, with donations suggested but optional. CVUUS is located at 2 Duane Court in Middlebury. Copies of Eddins’ latest poetry collection will be available for purchase.