MISSING THEM Memorial Event Kickoff: Holding Space for Grief

Join us on Friday night to kick off THE CITY’s MISSING THEM Memorial Event with poetry readings on loss, grieving and celebrating life during a pandemic, presented by Brooklyn Public Library featuring poets Ellen Bass, Ross Gay and Aracelis Girmay.

THE CITY’s MISSING THEM project is an ambitious effort to track down every New Yorker that died due to COVID-19 and write a story about them. What started in May as a digital memorial has now transformed into a two and a half day virtual event to honor and celebrate those we’ve lost. The event will include performances, writing workshops and, most importantly, stories and memories shared by the families who have written into the MISSING THEM memorial.

The night will also include a short video of community members from across New York City reciting a poem they wrote based on the 200+ obituaries written by THE CITY’s MISSING THEM writers and reporters. This is presented by Brooklyn Public Library’s Poetry of Comfort class.

When you sign up for any of the MISSING THEM Memorial events, you’ll be asked if you would like to share a story or listen to stories shared by family members. We encourage you to not only participate in our events, but to also to bear witness to the stories shared by those who lost someone they loved.