poeTRYhealing * Writing Poetry Under Traumatic Fascism * Poetic Justice for Minneapolis
3 Classes at The Loft Literary Center
poeTRYhealing
healing from individual and collective trauma through poetry
with Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D.
Saturday, June 27 10 AM-1 PM ET
Hosted online by The Loft Literary Center
poeTRYhealing is a three-hour class led by Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D., an award-winning poet and scholar of trauma that will introduce students to a diverse group of poets who use poetry as a way to heal from individual and collective trauma. During the class meeting, we will read selections from Audre Lorde, Anne Sexton, Gloria Anzaldúa, Ocean Vuong, Yusef Komunyakaa, Joy Harjo, and Ellen Bass.
Each poem will be read for the emotional healing power it presents, and specific elements of what makes a poem effective as a form of witness and recovery will be explored. An essential part of our gathering will be to give ample time during the class for students to respond to the poetry by writing journal entries or poems of their own based on carefully crafted writing prompts. All writing will be kept private to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all.
Writing Poetry Under Traumatic Fascism
with Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D.
Saturday, July 25 10 AM-1 PM ET
Hosted online by The Loft Literary Center
Writing Poetry Under Traumatic Fascism is a three-hour class led by Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D., an award-winning poet and scholar of trauma that will introduce students to an innovative method of using poetry as a way of witnessing to and healing from traumatic fascism. During the class meeting, we will read poems from the anthology, ICE OUT: Minnesota Writers Rising Up, published in February 2026 after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
Everyone is welcome, and this will be a supportive, caring, and non-competitive experience where students—from those just beginning their writing and healing journeys to those with expertise in writing, teaching, publishing, or the mental health professions—can explore the healing power of poetry in the face of traumatic fascism.
Poetic Justice for Minneapolis
with Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D.
Saturdays, September 27 and October 3, 9 AM-Noon CT
Hosted by The Loft Literary Center
Poetic Justice for Minneapolis is a 2-part, in-person class with Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D., an award-winning poet, novelist and trauma scholar who grew up in Winona, Minnesota, and is returning to the Twin Cities to offer this special opportunity to the community.
Part 1, “Poetry as a Way of Healing,” on Saturday, September 26, will introduce students to her innovative method of using poetry as a way of witnessing to and healing from trauma based on her book, We Heal from Memory. During the class meeting, we will read poems from the poets Anne Sexton, Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Joy Harjo, as well as from the anthology, ICE OUT: Minnesota Writers Rising Up, published in February 2026 after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. Each poem will be studied for the emotional healing power it presents, and specific elements of what makes a poem effective as a form of witness and recovery will be explored so students can write their own poetry based on carefully crafted and trauma-informed writing prompts.
Part 2, “Poetic Justice,” on Saturday, October 3, will gather our community back together to address how poetry can address both individual and collective trauma in order to help create a safe and nurturing environment for all. This class will allow time for processing the lessons of the first class through writing, discussion, and poetry readings by students themselves. Special attention will be given to create a supportive, caring, and non-competitive experience where students -- from those just beginning their writing and healing journeys to those with expertise in writing, teaching, publishing, or the mental health professions-- can explore poetry’s power to heal and to create visions of community justice for Minneapolis.