(Waitlist) Walking into the Woods with Rosie Peters: A Poetry Cohort 2025 (14 sessions)

Bravely embark on a poetry venture led by author, activist, and storyteller Rosetta “Rosie” Peters. Limited to 12 participants, the cohort will commit to a six-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 locations in Marine on St. Croix: Christ Lutheran Church 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 Thursday evening, September 4th 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.

Requirements

Classes and trail walks held at parks may not be ADA accessible due to the location and nature of the class experience.

Registration requires an acknowledgement of class requirements. See below

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

Session 1  Thursday, March 6, 6-8pm  – Christ Lutheran Church, 150 5th Street, Marine on St. Croix, MN

Session 2  Thursday, March 20, 6-8pm

Session 3  Thursday, April 3, 6-8pm

Session 4  Thursday, April 17, 6-8pm

Session 5  Thursday, May 1, 6-9pm

Session 6   Thursday, May 15, 6-9pm

Session 7   Thursday, June 5, 6-9pm

Session 8   Thursday, June 19, 6-9pm

Session 9   Thursday, July 17, 6-9pm

Session 10  Thursday, July 24, 6-9pm

Session 11  Tuesday, August 12, 6-9pm

Session 12  Thursday, August 21,6-9pm

Session 13  Tuesday, August 26, 6-9pm

Session 14  Evening of Thursday, September 4

Additional Details

Class locations in Marine will be announced by email to class participants each week.

Please register only if you can make a personal commitment to attend all or as many sessions as possible.

If interested, you can find our cancellation policy here.

By Registering, I agree to the following Poetry Cohort Class Requirements

• I understand that consistent participation is critical in building trust and respect

between class participants.

• I understand that registration in this class requires my commitment to attend

           classes in-person through the entire class calendar.

• I understand that each class participant deserves my kindness and respect.
• I understand that it is a privilege to become a member of the writing cohort.

Poetry Cohort FAQ’s

What if I can’t make every class on the calendar?

We understand that “life” comes up, despite our best intentions. For example, you may be looking forward to a pre-planned trip. We would encourage you to register for the next class if your trip plan precludes you from missing more than one class of the current offering.

What if there is an unforeseen circumstance that prevents my full participation?

If unforeseen circumstances arise that preclude your full involvement before the class starts, please consider dropping the class to allow someone on the waiting list to participate. When the unforeseen occurs during the class schedule, your instructor and fellow class participants will either do their best to accommodate your needs, graciously allow you to participate as you are able or ask that you not participate at this time.

Why is being a member of a writing cohort a privilege?

Registration is only the beginning. A cohort is developed over time, as vulnerabilities are shared related to content and life experience. A cohort demands trust and respect that can only develop with time, listening, acceptance, kindness and gratitude.

Can I elect not to share my work product publicly at the final poetry reading?

Each poet participant will be encouraged to participate in the final poetry reading, but it is not required. Throughout the course of the class, personal confidence will build as poets share work product with each other. Each class participant should remain open to the idea of fully participating in the final poetry reading.

What if everyone else in the cohort is an accomplished writer and I’m not?

One of the most important objectives of the class is to develop as a listener that accepts others and is open to the development of their own voice.  Everyone is considered a writer, whether they have honed their craft for years or more recently committed to exploring how to write poetry.

Why is it so hard to get into this class? Couldn’t the classes just be bigger?

Rosie Peters is a beloved community member and a deeply respected teacher. Those impactful attributes, along with the fact that a small group of dedicated participants can more readily develop the trust and respect required of a cohort, put this class in high demand. Register with patience, understanding that you may need to wait for the next opportunity.

Why is this class offered free of charge?

This event is being provided at no charge as a personal gift. Rosie believes in giving the gift of herself, her writing, and her teaching skills. The non-profit organizations supporting Rosie’s vision believe that students will “pay it forward” in their own way. We do request that you register only if you can make a personal commitment to attend all or as many sessions as possible.