The Voices of Hillsborough
Chapbook
As part of her term as the 2025–2027 Poet Laureate of Hillsborough, Amal Kassir is inviting residents of all ages to participate in a special literary project: a community poetry anthology that captures the wisdom, memories, and spirit of our town.
Inspired by the timeless structure of The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, the collection will gather short poems reflecting on life’s essential themes—love, friendship, family, place, work, belonging, and community. Each piece will contribute to a multigenerational portrait of Hillsborough, creating a small literary time capsule for this moment in our town’s history.​​
This project is an invitation to pause, reflect, and contribute a small piece of yourself to the story of Hillsborough.
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I hope you will join us.
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With love & gratitude,
Amal Kassir
Poet Laureate of Hillsborough (2025–2027)
About Amal >
You do not need to be a professional writer to participate. This project welcomes students, elders, longtime residents, newcomers, and anyone who has something meaningful to say about life and community. Poems may be simple reflections, memories, observations, or words of wisdom you would like to pass forward.
Throughout the coming months, Amal will offer writing workshops around town to help participants craft their pieces. Submissions will be curated by a small team of Hillsborough writers and published in a beautifully designed chapbook created by a local artist.
The anthology will culminate in a community book launch and reading event near the end of the Poet Laureate term. All proceeds from the book will support HAC and programming for the next Hillsborough Poet Laureate.​
Submissions
To be part of this project, email entries for The Voices of Hillsborough Chapbook to poetlaureate@hillsboroughartscouncil.org.
UPCOMING WRITING WORKSHOPS:
On Home and Earth: Writing the Places We Love
APRIL 21, 2026, 6-8 PM
Orange County Public Library
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Through simple prompts and guided reflection, participants will craft heartfelt pieces about land, home, memory, and belonging in a time of rapidly changing climate. Whether reflecting on a childhood creek, a garden, a front porch, or the forests and fields that shape our region, this workshop invites us to write about the places that hold us. For writers and non-writers alike!
Writing Workshop:
A Snapshot of Lifetimes
MAY 16, 2026, 2-4 PM
Orange County Public Library
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This workshop uses journaling as a doorway into the inner stories that shape who you are. While we can’t write a full memoir in a single afternoon, we can distill lifetimes—experiences, emotions, questions, and truths—into a single, carefully crafted poem. Through guided prompts and figurative language, participants will learn how to transform personal moments into a one-page poetic piece that holds entire worlds within it. No prior experience with poetry is required—only a willingness to reflect, write, and explore.
On Wisdom:
Harvesting Life’s Lessons
JUNE 20, 2026, 2-4 PM
Orange County Public Library
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In honor of the fullness of summer, this workshop invites participants to reflect on the lessons life has given them. Through guided prompts and storytelling exercises, we will harvest the wisdom gathered across years—moments of growth, challenge, love, loss, and discovery—and shape them into short poems meant to be shared with the community. Participants will craft pieces that offer reflections, advice, or insights for future generations of Hillsborough.
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