Walking into the Woods with Rosie Peters: A Poetry Cohort (Session 4 of 11)

Photo Credit: Ne-Dah-Ness-Rose-Greene

Registration is required.

Bravely embark on a new poetry venture led by author, activist, and storyteller Rosetta “Rosie” Peters. Limited to 12 participants, the cohort will commit to a five-month process of figuratively and metaphorically “walking into the woods” together, exploring grief, trauma, our inner lives, and more through poetry.

Sherman Alexie said, “Vulnerability is contagious.” Rosie’s body of work is one that speaks the hard truth of topics like child molestation, rape, and emotional, mental, and physical abuse. “But also, my work celebrates family, motherhood, community, hope, forgiveness, and love,” Rosie says. “Above all, love.”

The cohort will meet biweekly on Thursday evenings at three locations in Marine on St. Croix: Christ Lutheran Church, Marine Community Library, and Marine Mills Folk School. Occasionally, the group will visit nearby wooded or natural areas for inspiration. The cohort framework will include writing prompts and time for writing, workshopping one another’s pieces, reading works from both old favorites and contemporary poets, and small group work.

A final poetry reading for the public will be held on October 3, 2024, at the Brookside Bar & Grill.

This cohort is a collaboration of Christ Lutheran Church, Marine Community Library, Marine Mills Folk School, and Rosie Peters.

About Rosetta Peters

Rosetta “Rosie” Peters is a poet, author, public speaker, storyteller, and activist. She is of Yankton, Crow Creek, and Oglala descent and is excited to be a part of the revitalization of her ancestral language, Dakota. Rosie is the recipient of a 2020 Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals grant and a 2021 Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Next Step grant. She has performed her poetry throughout the Midwest, often with live musical accompaniment by Minnesota composer/musician JG Everest. In 2022, Peters and Everest recorded and released a chapbook album of original work titled “The Hummingbird’s Dance.” Rosie’s influences include Paul Dunbar, Maya Angelou, Natalie Diaz, Joy Harjo, Sierra DeMulder and Lewis Hyde.

Skill Level

No prior experience required.

Age Requirement

Students ages 16 and older are welcome to attend this class. Attendees ages 16 and 17 are welcome to attend without a parent or guardian when prior written consent from a guardian is provided to MMFS at info@marinemillsfolkschool.org.

Class Dates and Locations

Session 1 – May 16: Marine Community Library

Session 2 – May 30: Marine Community Library

Session 3 – June 13: Marine Mills Folk School

Session 4 – June 27: Marine Mills Folk School

Session 5 – July 11: Christ Lutheran Church

Session 6 – July 25: Christ Lutheran Church

Session 7 – Aug 8: Marine Mills Folk School

Session 8 – Aug 29: Marine Community Library

Session 9 – Sept 12: Christ Lutheran Church

Session 10 – Sept 26: Marine Mills Folk School

Session 11 – October 3: Poetry reading at the Brookside Bar & Grill

Cost Details
This event is being provided at no charge. Therefore, we request that you register only if you can make a personal commitment to attend all or as many sessions as possible.

NOTE: Be aware we may cancel class if a minimum number of registrations is not reached. We work to balance a teacher’s need to plan for a class with students’ busy schedules — not an easy task. Please register as early as possible!

If interested, you can find our cancellation policy here.