“The Greatest Poem” is inspired by one of America’s greatest poets Walt Whitman, who said, “The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.” 

Whitman’s claim stemmed from a belief that both poetry and democracy derive their power from their ability to create a unified whole out of disparate parts. Those who’ve descended from Asian immigrants comprise one of those disparate parts. However, there is no singular Asian American identity because the Asian American identity is also made of distinct parts. The Greatest Poem explores this complexity through poetry, film and a 20-foot flower garden mural created by artist and poet Thu Ann Nguyen.

The installation features found poems written by Thu Anh using expressions of Asian American identity submitted to us by hundreds of AAPI women. She will continue writing found poems and add them to the poetry wall.

What does it mean to be an Asian American woman?

Teachers, Facing Increasing Levels of Stress, Are Burned Out

According to one recent analysis, over half of teachers surveyed are considering quitting.

For Thu Anh Nguyen, 43, quitting her job meant having to transfer to her husband’s health insurance, which included significantly higher expenses than she was accustomed to while working as a sixth grade teacher at a private school in Washington D.C. But the decision was worth it for the reduced stress she felt soon after quitting, she said.

I am very proud of my contribution to this thoughtful, informative, NECESSARY book by @v_solesmith

I’ve been reading her newsletter, and sending her words of wisdom for ages (why don’t any jeans or underwear ever really fit?! Anyone?!)

She has really helped me find words for conversations about my own body in this world, and I found her last chapter here about how to talk to others so helpful.

And many of you with adolescent children have asked me about phone and social media for kids, so read this.

Here are @RevoluteLit's Pushcart noms from volume .003! Congrats, all!

Beyond honored and thrilled to have my poem nominated for a Pushcart Prize. And to have it be this particular poem, the poem of my heart, is all I could ask for.

Interview with Thu Anh Nguyen

Thu Anh Nguyen (‘02) exemplifies Walt Whitman's assertion that each of us contains multitudes. She joined our podcast this week to discuss her work as a painter and calligrapher working on large scale bespoke floral posters supporting numerous social activist missions, but there we expanded our discussion to learn more about her other ventures and how she ties her identities, skills, and passions together. From her days at Wellesley, to her work as a published poet, author, middle school teacher, diversity and inclusion consultant, and parent, Thu Anh does not fail to impress!