AEF believes that forging partnerships with local institutions enhances our students’ educational journey. We are so fortunate to have access to such extraordinary nonprofits right in our backyard. During the 2022/23 school year, we initiated a pilot program in collaboration with Aspen Words, the literary arm of the Aspen Institute, to introduce poetry to Aspen Middle School. It was such a success in its first year that we continued our partnership for a second year, and have since made it part of our annual programming.

In this middle school program, throughout the two week-long workshop, students participate in 46 workshops led by internationally acclaimed Aspen Words poets Natasha Carrizosa, Joaquín Zihuatanejo, and Logan Phillips.In addition to these in-class sessions, students also had the opportunity to attend additional workshops, fostering a deep engagement with this literary form and with these renowned poets.

The highlight of the program was a poetry slam hosted by poet Natasha Carrizosa at the Black Box Theatre, where families packed the venue to witness students showcase their newfound skills with confidence and support for each other. AEF is excited about the continued success of the Aspen Words partnership and looks forward to future collaborations with this invaluable community partner.