So much gratitude to Skyline College, the Skyline College Learning Communities, CIPHER, Puente and Kababayan for the amazing send-off last night. I couldn’t have asked for a more memorable way to end my laureateship! Out of caution, we limited the capacity and only had representatives from some of the organizations I worked with over the last 3.5 years. Featured are youth poets I mentored, as well as poets who are connected with Skyline. Also delighted to support new authors from the county! Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible. There are too many names and organizations to mention and I will be reaching out to everyone individually but for now, please accept my deepest gratitude and admiration for your generous spirit and our shared passion for social justice and equity. Of everything that I have done as poet laureate, I am most proud of the relationships I built and the communities I upheld. I am ever so grateful that poetry has allowed my story to connect with yours.
Aileen Cassinetto 