The featured poets who read following the open mic were:

Christopher Booth, a lifelong lover of poetry and the performance of poetry lives in Danbury. Among his interests are High Modernism, cosmology, and evolutionary biology. He enjoys nature photography and loves dogs.

Manuel Adrián López, born in Morón, Cuba in 1969 and a bilingual poet and writer whose extensive work has been published in various international literary journals and anthologies such as Antología Paralelo Cero 2017 (El Ángel Editor) and he has participated in numerous literary events throughout the Americas. His recent publications include El hombre incompleto (Poetry, Dos Orillas, 2017).

Cora Santaguida, a Connecticut native, has worked extensively supporting the Green Party running for local public offices and working for the party on a national level. She has written poetry and prose since she was a child and lately has been writing nonfiction essays. Several life-altering events have earned her a diagnosis of PTSD which has been the emotional fuel for a lot of her writing.

Marianela Medrano moderated the evening’s program.  She is a writer and professional counselor with a Ph.D. in psychology. She offers workshops and readings in Connecticut and around the country. She has published six poetry books including her two most recent works, Diosas de la Yuca/Goddesses of the Yuca (2011) and Prietica (2013).

Held four times per academic year, Confluencia was established in October 2008 by President De Filippis, who was appointed in July of that year. “It is a way to honor talented writers and all they have achieved in their life’s work and a way to share their personal experiences with others,” President De Filippis said. “The literal meaning of the title ─ a coming or flowing together, meeting or gathering at one point ─ describes what we envision when our community becomes part of the excitement on our campus. It is an opportunity for the College to affirm the centrality of community in all that we do and to underscore our intent to remain an essential part of the literary heart of the region.”