On March 20th, The Good Listening Project (TGLP) had the honor of hosting Our Why, a poetry reading and story showcase for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Patient Support Pillar. This special event marked the culmination of the My Why project – a series of individual and small-group listening sessions and poems crafted by TGLP’s Listener Poets to illuminate the personal motivations behind ACS staff's dedication to their mission.
More than 100 ACS team members participated in the My Why partnership, sharing personal stories and reflections on what drives their work. Through these conversations, TGLP Listener Poets created original poems capturing themes of Community, Legacy, Equity, Love, and Transformation – core values that emerged across the ACS community. During the reading, ACS staff shared their poems and personal reflections, offering a powerful glimpse into the heartfelt reasons behind their commitment to serving patients and families.
The event was also a moment to honor the late Chidube Nkiruka, a beloved Listener Poet who contributed to the project and left a lasting impact on both ACS participants and the TGLP team. His poem, set to his original music and shared during the event, became a touching tribute to both the reader and the poet himself.
The Our Why poetry reading not only celebrated individual stories but also highlighted the collective compassion, resilience, and humanity at the heart of ACS’s work. TGLP is grateful for the opportunity to hold space for this vibrant and inspiring community and we look forward to expanding this partnership.
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