This session explores poetry by and about working class lives. We will explore the concept of privilege, asking questions about who gets to tell their poetic stories, and why. Sally Bellerose and Ellen LaFleche will read poetry describing their childhood experiences with poverty and class, including poems from LaFleche’s chapbook Workers' Rites and Bellerose’s poems about growing up in a mill town in western MA. Howie Faerstein will read his poetry, including selections from his book Dreaming of the Rain in Brooklyn. These poems challenge notions of class in the USA. Oonagh Doherty will read poetry about her experiences as a poverty lawyer and hand out a poem that asks questions about privilege and intersectionality and connects classism with other social issues including ageism, ableism and racism. Audience questions and a discussion period will follow.