1/20-1/24 Week in Review

Hello Friends,

Word of the week: Resilient

This week, we explored the meaning of resilience—both personally and as a nation—while witnessing the inauguration of our new president. Monday was also Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and although we didn’t have programming, it felt fitting to reflect on resilience in honor of his legacy.

In the midst of icy temperatures, we found warmth in the kitchen, preparing delicious jerk chicken meatballs from The New York Times. The barbeque pineapple glaze added the perfect touch, fueling us for an exciting afternoon of screen printing with Aurora.

The fellows collaborated on a collective artwork, layering their unique designs onto fabric they had previously printed. It was inspiring to watch the piece evolve, as each new layer added depth and creativity to the final product.

At Hudson River Maritime Museum, we continued our boat-building project, working diligently with the bandsaw to cut large side and bottom pieces. The process required precise measurements and teamwork, as all the fellows worked together to maneuver the large wooden boards and carefully follow the cut lines.

Thursday was especially exciting as we stepped into the newly renovated CPW building for the first time. Exploring the new space was a highlight of the week. We also toured the Community Gallery where fellows will be having their own exhibition during the end of programming. 

We were thrilled to have another workshop with TMI, where we explored a writing prompt called The Hot Spot. This exercise encouraged fellows to write as if a camera were on their shoulder, zooming in on a specific memory with rich detail. Rather than telling the full story, the focus was on capturing the moment as vividly and specifically as possible in the present tense. Stories ranged from forgetting to mute a mic in an online zoom class to the chaos of cooking for the first time. The stories were touching, deep, and filled with laughter. Working with Dara and Rain is always inspiring, and the fellows deeply value these sessions.

On Friday, we wrapped up the week with our January excursion to Spins Bowl in Poughkeepsie. Competitive games of bowling brought out everyone’s spirit, and despite the range of skill levels, we all had a great time.

Hope you have a weekend filled with moments of resiliency!

Have a good weekend,

Place Corps Team 

:)