Panel Of Writers

Last Friday, March 16th, I attended the Panel of Writers. The four writers that attended gave us their inspiration for writing and what effect the city has had on them. By going to this panel I learned that there are diverse group of people and each person has had a different experience and view of the city.
The first speaker was Gregory Kahne who writes columns for The Baltimore Sun. All of his writings have a Baltimore perspective and are usually controversial. His style of writing is short and precise, similar to how he talks. His job as a reporter is to tell the truth, but Gregory said that doesn’t always happen. He wants to tell the stories of Baltimore that are dying to be heard, and he knows there will always be stories to be told. According to Kahne, the hardest part of working for The Baltimore Sun is getting public officials to tell the truth. A lot of times the public officials don’t want the public to know what is going on so they’ll ignore the press. One way Kahne finds answers is by going to Maryland State Correctional Facilities and talking to inmates. “They’ll talk more than people running the system,” he said. Another downside of reporting on such a complex city is the amount of negative stories. He much rather report on happy positive stories, but most times there are more pressing matters. Kahne said he is going to continue doing his job and keep the local residents informed about the city, no matter how persistent he has to be.
The second writer was Elizabeth Evits from the local magazine The Urbanite. The Urbanite is a free monthly publication rooted in Baltimore. The goal of the magazine is to spread the culture of one part of the city to all the other parts of the city. Through her work Evits has realized that most people who have a relationship with the city, people who work or reside there, are genuinely interested in what’s going on in the city. Readers are also allowed to write in and share their experience of the city. This magazine is a huge help to spreading the culture and knowledge of Baltimore to local people.
The third writer was the poet Chezia Thompson Strand. She read her emotional poem about a city girl who wants to escape the walls and barriers she was born into. One half of the poem was about how the city fulfills all her needs. She needs a library, an education, groceries, culture and diversity, and Baltimore has all of that. Then the poem asks does she need murder, teen pregnancy, vacant lots, loud buses with pollution, or sirens at all hours of the night. At the end of the poem she states she freely chooses city life with all the good and bad because of the opportunities and joy it can bring to her life. I really enjoyed the poem it was very emotional and influential. I liked how she showed an unbiased view and discussed the good and bad parts of Baltimore.
The final writer was author Jane Connely. The pieces she writes are greatly influenced by her experiences in Baltimore. Connely was originally from Virginia and moved to Baltimore. She was in a free clinic one day and was intrigued by the diverse people there She began working there as a volunteer. The clients she came into contact with are who most of her characters are based on. Most of her settings in her novels are based on areas of Baltimore. She said Baltimore offers a lot of culture. Another writer she admires said there are only two plots in all novels. A stranger moves into town, and someone leaves town on a journey. Both plots represent two cultures clashing which is fascinating to observe and read about. Baltimore is full of cultures clashing and that’s why it is such a fascinating city.
After attending the Panel of Writers I learned that you should take advantage of everything cities have to offer, especially Baltimore. Cities can inspire people in several ways. We saw many ways how a city inspires writers, but there are several other ways. Just because a city has a negative reputation doesn’t mean you should neglect it. You should embrace it and help it become a better place so people in the future are given the same opportunities the city has offered us.