Spread Your Wings and FLI: Stories, Poems, and First-Gen voices

Curious about poetry or looking to strengthen your performance skills? Join the FLI Network and the University Writing Center at the Bloomberg Student Center for an open mic night where students can share their creative work in poetry and prose.

Poetry Submission Guidelines
All poetry submissions must be 300–500 words. Please select one of the following prompts:

Wings We Carry – Write about the wings you carry. What are they made of—late nights, family hopes, fear, pride? How do they lift you even when they feel heavy?

The First Flight – Describe your first day stepping into a space no one in your family has entered before. What did the ground look like when you finally took off?

Between Two Skies – Write about living between home and campus, culture and expectation. How do you learn to fly without leaving parts of yourself behind?

Submit your poetry here:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=OPSkn-axO0eAP4b4rt8N7PJG5xdG90lAvAg2Lq-QoOdUOFJMMFlQVElBWk9WV1JUUEc5RE1WSTA3Ny4u&route=shorturl

Join the FLI Network and the University Writing Center for a special book talk featuring author Jessica Ilayalith Mora, who wrote Spread Your Wings and FLI, a book centered on first-generation voices. Enjoy free food while hearing the author discuss their work, inspiration, and writing journey. Following the talk, students will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A and engage in meaningful conversation. Whether you’re an avid reader, a writer, or simply curious, this event is a great chance to connect and learn.