48 - Reading Across Rhode Island with Charlotte Abotsi

Host Lauren chats with poet, Special Projects Manager at Providence Art, Culture & Tourism, and Reading Across Rhode Island Honorary Chair, Charlotte Abotsi about this year's RARI pick, Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. They also discuss poetry, Providence's artsy vibe, and the impact of their high school English teachers. In the Last Chapter they answer the question: What is a poem or a line from a poem that has always stuck with you?   Overdueing It is a project funded by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services and is produced by library staff around the state. We are proud to be a resident partner of the Rhode Island Center for the Book. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own and do not represent those of the Overdueing It podcast, its sponsor organizations, or any participants' place of employment. The content of Overdueing It episodes are the property of the individual creators, with permission for Overdueing it to share the content on their podcast feed in perpetuity. Any of the content from the Overdueing podcast cannot be reproduced without express written permission.   Our logo was designed by Sarah Bouvier and our theme music is by Neura-Flow.   Books Let the Poets Govern: A Declaration of Freedom by Camonghne Felix Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian Sex Camel by Muggs Fogarty   Media Beef (TV Series, 2023 - ) Harvey (1950) The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)   Poems "Why Some People Be Mad at Me Sometimes" by Lucille Clifton "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks "Our Land" by Langston Hughes "Pretext" by Muggs Fogarty "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W.B. Yeats