Learning to See™ Instructors

M. Doretta Cornell taught writing and literature at Pace University, Pleasantville, for many years, and poetry workshops at the Hudson Valley Writer' Center. She is a member of the Poetry Caravan. Her poetry has appeared in Earth's Daughters, Inkwell, Commonweal, and NCR, among others, and in the anthologies (en)compass and Literature 5th Edition (McGraw-Hill).

Lisa Fleck is a poet, writer and researcher. She is a prior semi-finalist in the "Discovery" Poetry Contest, and a winner of the 37th annual Town of Greenburgh Poetry Contest. Her poems have been published in The Westchester Review, and she has read in many New York venues. Her chapbook, A Sea Change, was published in 2011 by Finishing Line Press. Lisa currently lives with her husband in Ossining, New York

Kate Gallagher is a poet and editor, and teaches writing at the Hudson Valley Writer’s Center, at the Kids’ Short Story Connection, the Scarsdale schools, and at residencies sponsored by ArtsWestchester. She has also led workshops for the developmentally disabled, and for women with eating disorders. Kate’s poetry has appeared in the Westchester Review, Let the Poets Speak, and en(compass). This is her fourth year teaching the Brenda Connor-Bey Learning to See™ series.

Ruth Handel poet and writer who has presented her poems in many Westchester and NYC venues. As manager and member of the Poetry Caravan, she has directed intergenerational poetry writing workshops, currently teaches poetry writing to psychiatric patients, and gives poetry readings in hospitals, shelters, and senior residences. Ruth has published a chapbook, Reading the White Spaces (Finishing Line Press, 2009) and has published poems and nonfiction in Controlled Burn, Let The Poets Speak, en(compass), The Jewish Women’s Literary Annual, the Westchester Review, Common Ground Review, the New York Times, and local newspapers. She is Professor Emerita, Montclair State University, where she taught literature and literacy. This is her fourth year as instructor in the Brenda Connor-Bey Learning To See ™ Legacy workshop series.

Karen Rippstein is a Certified Poetry Therapist, Poet and Creative Writing Teacher. She teaches popular writing programs throughout Westchester at the Greenburgh Nature Center, Westchester Community College Continuing Ed and Mainstream, Mariandale Retreat & Conference Center and the Katonah Village Library. Karen is the recipient of ongoing Poets and Writers, Inc. grants and is a member of the Poetry Caravan. She has been published in the National Association of Poetry Therapy’s Journal of Poetry Therapy, NAPT Museletter, Letters from the Heart, Personal Journaling magazine, en(compass): The Poetry Caravan Anthology and Layers of Possibility Anthology. Karen lives in Hawthorne, NY with her muse, a white mini-schnauzer pup, Lili.

Golda Solomon, poet, spoken word performer, professor (Speech, Communication, Theatre Arts) was the host of Po’Jazz (Poetry in Partnership with Jazz) formerly in residence at The Cornelia Street Café, Greenwich Village, NYC. Solomon also gigs around NYC and goes on the road with a fabulous roster of jazz musicians. Her words may be found in anthologies, e-zines, journals and CD’s. Her work has appeared in The Mom Egg, Heal (Clique Calm Books), and she is currently preparing a manuscript for publication. She created "From Page To Performance" workshops for emerging poets and “ready to come out of the closet” writers and brings innovative, on-site organization specific arts programming to workplaces, schools and other organizations. She is a member of WOMENWRITE, nyc and Word of Mouth writers, bringing poetry in performance to the tri-state area. Solomon has a collection of poetry, Flatbush Cowgirl, published in 1999, for which she produced a companion CD, First Set, and a second CD of her poetry, Word Riffs, recorded with Center Search Quest and Saco Yasuma. She also co-produced the CD, Po'Jazz: Takin' It To the Hollow. Golda is a founding member of IWJ (International Women In Jazz) and two-time awardee performing at All Nite Soul at St. Peter’s, NYC, the “jazz” church and at IWJ’s Inaugural Women In Jazz Festival. Solomon is also a proud poetry outreach mentor for City College (CUNY) and the annual CCNY Poetry Festival. Her most recent accomplishment is being invited and appointed poet-in- residence at The Blue Door Gallery, Yonkers, New York where she facilitates ArtSpeak, ekphrastic creative writing workshops. (partially funded by Poets and Writers). Presently she is honing and adding to her writing skills attending the low-residency MFA Program at Pine Manor College. You are invited to check out her website, www.jazzjaunts.com for all her activities and calendar of performances and you may contact her at gs@goldajazz.com .

Ann Koshel van Buren is a writer, educator, and activist. She publishes a weekly arts column for her local newspaper in the Hudson Valley where she is part of a community of poets, painters, musicians, and performance artists. In conjunction with her creative endeavors she organizes workshops and panel discussions on renewable energy and sound food policies that sustain strong, local economies. She has an MA in English from NYU and an M.L.I.S. from the Palmer School. She has taught English, Creative Writing, and Research skills for many years. Her work with students of all ages has taken her from NYC to places throughout the US and to The Netherlands, Italy, and China.

Charlotte Walsh teaches writing and poetry at the Hudson Valley Writers' Center, the Lakeland Schools Children's Center, and the Lehman College Art Gallery. She has also participated in the Scarsdale Young Writers Conference. She is a member of Poetry Caravan and has been a facilitator for Intergenerational Poetry Workshops. Her works have appeared in Into the Teeth of the Wind, Let the Poets Speak, Poetry Motel and several anthologies.

Estha Weiner is co-editor and contributor to Blues For Bill: A Tribute To William Matthews (Akron Poetry Series, 2005), author of The Mistress Manuscript (Book Works, 2009) and Transfiguration Begins At Home (Tiger Bark Press, Sept., 2009). In the Weather of the World is forthcoming from Ireland's Salmon Poetry in 2011. Her poems have appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, including The New Republic, Barrow Street. Nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize, she was a 2005 winner of a Paterson Poetry Prize, and a 2008 Visiting Scholar at The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford, England. Estha is founding director of The Sarah Lawrence College NY Writers Nights Series, Marymount Writers Nights, and a Speaker on Shakespeare for The New York Council For The Humanities. She is a Professor in the English Dept. at City College of NY, and serves or has served on the Poetry/Writing faculties of The Frost Place, The Hudson Valley Writers Center, Stonecoast Writers Conference, Poets and Writers, Poets House, and The Writers Voice. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Slapering Hol Press, Hudson Valley Writers Center. In her previous life, Estha was an actor and worked for BBC radio