This year Jennifer Gallant (chief financial officer, Polish National Credit Union, Chicopee), Vanessa Martinez-Renuncio (professor, Holyoke Community College), and Adrienne Osborn (programs manager, Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center) read the works of women still behind bars to more than140 guests at the Springfield Marriott Hotel. Stella Cabrera, a teen participant in the VFI workshop at Girls Inc. of Holyoke, read two of her own poems, and the Voices Carry performance group read poems and reflections in thanks to Marion VanArsdell, a long-time workshop facilitator and VFI board member.
The Voices Carry performance group
Vanessa Martinez-Renuncio, reading
Two VFI members received special recognition: Christina Hall-Ruest and Moana Rawlins. Christina is finishing a degree at Cambridge College and is working as management information systems coordinator at Friends of the Homeless, and Moana Rawlins, who earned a degree from Smith College, founded a theater group and now is program director at Gandara Residential Services for Women in Holyoke.
Pat Schneider, a founder of Amherst Writers and Artists, whose workshop method VFI uses, also spoke at the event, reminding guests that everyone is a writer, even if they write their words only on the air. One surprise: Springfield city councilor Kateri Walsh offered special commendation to VFI for its work in the community.
 Pat Schneider |  Karen Hansmann, president of the VFI board, and Kateri Walsh, Springfield city councilor |
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