Two writers to raise money for Haiti relief

Two poets, Patrick Rosal and Kiki Petrosino, will read at a benefit for Haiti relief at Cornell College at 7 p.m. on March 17.

In addition to the reading, there will be music and a raffle to raise relief money. The event is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5. The benefit is in the Hedges Conference room in The Commons on Cornell’s campus.

Patrick Rosal is the author of two full-length poetry collections, Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive , which won the Members’ Choice Award from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and most recently My American Kundiman, which won the Association of Asian American Studies 2006 Book Award in Poetry as well as the 2007 Global Filipino Literary Award.

Kiki Petrosino is a recent graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her first collection of poems is “Fort Red Border,” published by Sarabande Press. Her poems have appeared in Best New Poets, Forklift Ohio, POOL, Unpleasant Event Schedule, and elsewhere. Her awards include fellowships from the University of Iowa and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She is programming director at the International Writers Program and the University of Iowa.

Proceeds from the benefit will go to Hearts with Haiti, Shelterbox, and Doctors without Borders, and music will be provided by members of Cornell’s student group “Octave.”