I wrote this poem to celebrate the rich diversity of our town, especially the diversity brought by the New Americans who come to Syracuse from all over the globe with hopes and dreams to find refuge and to find a new home.

I have always been fascinated by what one would take if forced to leave their home quickly, with just a few belongings. I am a member of the Armenian community of Syracuse, and Syracuse has become a refuge for many Armenians over the last century, including those who fled Turkey during the genocide of 1915 and Baku in the 1980s. I have heard stories about how people left with all sorts of things in their suitcases—from handmade lace to pomegranate seeds—to start their new life.

Happy 25th Birthday to the Project! & many more!

I love the Syracuse Poster Project. For me, it captures so much of what I value – devotion to community, the pairing of arts & words, the beautification of our city; not to mention, the crisp, playful discipline of the 17-syllable art form, rooted in 8th century Japan.

The theme of this year’s Project – Quarters – felt especially resonant. I found myself wandering through history, reading, listening to our city’s past.

As a lawyer and an educator, I am accustomed to tinkering with words – sharpening them, arranging them, persuading them to take a stand. But this felt different. The words arrived – as if they had been waiting to be seen & heard.

I remain endlessly amazed by language & its ability to hold memory and to connect perfect strangers.