Last Friday, the Alpha Eta chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) of the American Samoa Community College conducted its fall poetry and art workshop for senior students at Manumalo High School.
Alpha Eta members that performed original and published poetry as part of the outreach, included Indira Lemana, Destiny Savusa, Anthony Salavea, Deliah Paopao, assisted by Francis Vaofanua and SiaeaOsa along with advisor Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka.
According to Tauiliili-Mahuka, “These community workshops are carried out as part of the society’s mission to foster literacy and promote interest in literature in the community.” 
Alpha Eta members performed poetry that explored themes such as culture and identity and, for the first time, presented original eco-poems that raise awareness about climate change and its impacts on islands in the Pacific.
The high school audience was then organized into small groups, with each focusing on one of the poems from the performances. Each group used their selected work as a springboard to create a collaborative poem and collage using crafting materials. The activity culminates in group discussions and a sharing of the collaborative poems and collages.
“Just like our spring workshops, I am excited by the level of engagement from the high school students and the fun they have being creative, this makes the outreach all the more worthwhile for Alpha Eta members,” explained Tauiliili-Mahuka.
Anyone seeking further information on the ASCC chapter of the Sigma Kappa Delta, or who would like to inquire about their Pacific Voices publication, is welcome to contact their advisor by email at r.tauiliili-mahuka@amsamoa.edu. Full details on the nationwide honor society can be found on its website at https://www.english2.org.
