Class

Poetic Justice for Minneapolis

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.

Please submit this request form at least two to three weeks in advance if you have any accessibility requests for this class. This class takes place in-person, at the Loft at Open Book. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.