There’s a lot of poets who have spoken about this idea of what words can do in times of crisis. They involve reminding ourselves of our humanity. However we define that. Yes, we need to be taking care of people, and making sure that they’re alive and that they have the means to think about a future, but even the idea of imagining a future… that’s where words come in. Now that you have fed yourself today, what is your plan for tomorrow?

In February, Ross Gay visited Alphabet City to launch his newest release, The Book of Delights, an essay collection in which he explores the ordinary and beautiful moments, things, and people he encounters in his day-to-day life. Prior to his reading, he took the time to visit with Sampsonia Way staff writers Sarah Gross and Maggie Medoff to chat about his writing practice, the brilliance of his students, and his ever-widening range of delights. [Spoiler Alert: There’s joy in losing your cell ph

Minds, Medicine, and the Mad: An Interview with sam sax From the green room in Alphabet City, as he prepared for his reading, sam sax was kind enough to speak to Sampsonia Way about the precarious nature of language and the power and history of madness. sax was in Pittsburgh to read from his most recent book bury it and his first published book madness, the latter of which is a collection of poems inspired by an early version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders publishe

In the middle of a cafe in the Northside, Sue Kerr, 47, looks like anybody else wandering through. She wears casual clothes and her hair tied back in a ponytail. The only item that draws attention is her rainbow bag. But behind the scenes, and with a keyboard, she is a force to be reckoned with. Kerr is the creator and primary blogger for the website PGH Lesbian Correspondents. In a time of inclusivity, and speaking up for lost voices, this Northsider is doing as much as she can to help bring a

Ernest Robinson has ventured into a whole new world. Formerly the director of environmental services at Uniontown Hospital, Robinson, 49, has a long history of working sanitation services in the medical world. Now he’s tackling college life, as Pitt’s new senior manager of custodial services. He brings with him a master’s degree in health care management from Troy University, and many years of leadership and custodial work, ranging from health care to contractor work to his service in the Mari

It’s a project that’s been going on for decades. The complete reconstruction of the northeast fountain in Allegheny Commons Park was initially proposed in 1966. In 2002, it was brought back to attention, and just earlier this year, the groundbreaking took place. The historic fountain was one of four that marked the corners of Allegheny Commons when the park was originally designed in 1867. According to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, due to budget issues within the city of Pittsburgh in the m

In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, just one month ago, there has been a wake in positive movements. On March 14, this past Wednesday, at 10:00 a.m., students from across the country walked out in protest of gun violence. Our fellow students, even those much younger than college age, are standing up and speaking out. While the reason they are forced to protest is tragic, their spirit and determination is admirable beyond words. And in this age of young voices being heard, one voice stand

Reading is hard. Forcing yourself to finish that philosophy reading is near impossible, and your chemistry textbook might as well be a doorstop. Getting through your reading homework for the week is exhausting, and by the time you’re done, your eyes can’t handle much more. When it comes to those books that you actually want to read, once you actually find the time to sit down and enjoy them, the worst thing happens. You can’t. There might be a lot of reasons you can’t read. Maybe you get distra