Ethnic Identity Poetry Workshop with Special Guest Speaker

School of Arts and Sciences Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Humanities presents Ethnic Identity Poetry Workshop with Special Guest Speaker Maria Lisella, Poet Laureate of Queens. Come and explore your ethnic heritage through poetry!

Maria Lisella is the sixth poet to serve as the borough’s Poet Laureate. Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Maria moved with her family to Bellerose and lived as a student in Flushing before she settled in Astoria 40 years ago. Maria graduated from Queensborough Community College and Queens College, earned a Master’s degree from NYU-Polytechnic School of Engineering, and studied Social Media at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Maria is the author of three books of poetry: the recently published collection Thieves in the Family and the chapbooks Amore on Hope Street and Two Naked Feet. 

Maria has also been a travel writer and editor for 30 years, visiting 60 countries during her career and developing a familiarity with many different cultures. Her travel writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including USA Today, Travel + Leisure, The Dallas Morning News, and FOXNews.com. She also contributes to La Voce di New York, an Italian and English bilingual online newspaper.  Come and explore your ethnic heritage through poetry!