The Twin Cities’ Fall was at its peak, Halloween was drawing near. The event list for TNID had been expanding since Spring. There was increased involvement in school district 287, which had requested support for students with unique sociobehavioral needs. Also in the pipeline had been a Health Fund for teacher wellness, enabling classes such as Yoga, Tai chi, etc. The TNID program to help with celebratory events for birthdays at a local care facility for substance abuse survivors had also gathered momentum. It was now necessary to refill the coffers so that the programs could continue being funded. A fundraiser by local poets did the trick. On Halloween afternoon, Fall brought in the cold, and TNID brought out the firepits. The outdoor event saw a collection of 14 poets and a very receptive audience. The reading was rung in by the well known artist-activist Dipankar Mukherjee. Soon, it was clear that the fires raging in the pits that warmed the audience reflected the fires that raged in the hearts of the poets, and warmed the souls of those present. While hot masala chai was served all through the chilly afternoon, the very successful program concluded with a delicious light supper by the courtesy of TNID volunteers. By the end of the two hour event, despite the bone biting cold, the event reached its goal and raised $10,000.

Watch the Recorded Event : TNID Fall Literacy Event October 31st 2021