Arlington Library Elevates Local Voices Of Color

ARLINGTON, MA — The Robbins Library and Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are creating a new collection to give voice to the experiences of people of color in Arlington.

Through a community-sourced collection of personal stories and other documents, the archive will serve as a place for underrepresented voices to be heard today and preserved for the future, the library says.

“Too often community members of color are spoken for or about; the purpose of this project is to restore the power of sharing one’s own narrative," Jillian Harvey, the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said. "This collection will be available via the library’s website for easy access for community members today and for years to come. We hope that this collection can serve as an #OwnVoices survey of life in Arlington including the joys, frustrations, and hardships of living as a Black, Indiginous, Person of Color (BIPOC) in our community."

There will be special programming ahead of the collection's launch, including a writing workshop and artist talks. Published author and writing instructor Lynette Benton will lead a three-part writing workshop via Zoom, "Telling Your Story of Race in Arlington," starting Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Benton will offer writing prompts and feedback, encouragement, and guidance as participants craft their stories. Anyone interested in this workshop can register at https://forms.gle/yt5Ci3eiZoZiHHYm7.

The community will also hear from local artists of color, providing a glimpse into the ways in which artists create stories through various forms of art. This series is being hosted in collaboration with the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture and kicks off Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

Poet Charles Coe will usher in the series with an Artists Talk that is open to the community, followed by a smaller workshop on March 6 for people of color to talk, brainstorm and write together.

Register for the February 27 Artist Talk at https://artisttalkcharlescoe.eventbrite.com.

Anyone who lives or lived in Arlington, works, or attends school in town is welcome to contribute to this collection. Stories, poems, essays, photographs, and other works that bring to light the experiences of residents of color are sought for submission to the collection.