This is a call to action and a challenge to the Norwich Bulletin and the Day newspapers. Follow the example of the New York Times, (See In the Rising Voices of 10 Young Poets, a Call for Change October 9, 2020) and create a space in your papers for promising young poets, under the age of 30, to showcase their skills and talents as they respond to all that is happening in America.

I suggest removing the criteria of race by encouraging young writers of our multi- cultural, ethnic and racial community to speak up, and write what is on their minds and in their hearts. Not just promising black voices but, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Haitian, Middle Eastern, Polish and all voices. Feature different authors weekly. Believe it or not publishing this type of writing was a common practice for local newspapers until the 1950’s when it fell out of fashion. Lets bring it back.

The New York Times used their online capabilities by once a week focusing on the works of poets 12 – 19 years of age and how they are responding the current climate of America. It may be new to most adults but it is the norm for them. How do they see our world? How do they view our and more importantly their future. The Times project includes interviews and recordings of the poets reading their works. Many different departments and desks collaborate to make each episode unique and special.

The Times idea was generated internally from Jaspal Riyait, an art director with a 20 year old son coping with the present worlds turmoil thru art. According to Ms. Riyait, “We started looking at a very particular time when young minds are molding and forming and not being influenced but being an influencer. And I think that was really important.”

Neither the Norwich Bulletin nor the Day need to reach across the country to different groups like the Times did. As local papers you can reach out to the local schools, groups and libraries that may already have writers, poets and artists looking and waiting for an opportunity to have their voices in its various ways heard.

Both the Norwich Bulletin and the Day have magazines searching for new readers and subscribers. Here is an opportunity to enhance that search, to create a community voice, to speak and be heard by the next generation of readers and writers. The artists, poets and writers, you select to give voice to locally may be heard by others who can help grow and expand their horizons. Horizons that may be regional or national competitions, performances, or competitions at various festivals. Your newspaper or magazine can become known as where someone got their work first published. You may become synonymous as being the first place a voice of tomorrow should be heard.

Will the topics of the articles that appear daily in your newspaper be an influence to their work? Will they reflect the people they see every day? How do they see their lives? Their challenges? Their futures?

Publishers and Editors of the Norwich Bulletin and the Day, are you up to the challenge?

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don't hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com