Stay Awhile: Poetic Narratives about Multiculturalism and Diversity

The struggle to understand our differences is real! Likewise, -real- is the stirring collection of poems in Stay Awhile: Poetic Narratives on Multiculturalism and Diversity that enlightens, enlivens, and entertains. As Hoffman and Granger so eloquently state in their introduction, poetry is a sacred healing art that has been shared across many cultures throughout history. It is in this sharing that empathy is fostered, the struggle to understand our differences assuaged, and we appreciate how such a collection of poems bears witness to our shared humanity. Although Stay Awhile is a beautiful collection for personal enjoyment, reflection, and growth, from the Introduction, which serves to frame many of the lessons emergent from the poems, and the Appendix, which contains several activities to help utilize the poems, this book of poetry has immense efficacy in classrooms and group discussions. For those who choose to read and -stay awhile- with this collection, they are certain to be touched through the honest and thoughtful portrayals represented in each poem.

Louis Hoffman, PhD, is a faculty member at Saybrook University and Director of the Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal Psychology Specialization. He also teaches courses in Saybrook's Creativity Studies and the Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health Specializations. Dr. Hoffman teaches two courses on poetry: Poetry, Healing, and Growth (Once a year this course is open to individuals not enrolled at Saybrook) and The Use of Poetry with Death, Loss, and Life Transitions. An avid writer, Dr. Hoffman has five previous books, including Existential Psychology East-West and Brilliant Sanity: Buddhist Approaches to Psychotherapy, as well as numerous book chapters and journal articles. 
 
Nathaniel Granger, Jr., PsyD is a Licensed Minister, practicing psychotherapist, author and poet, transformational speaker, and executive coach.  He has been published in The New Existentialists and Journal of Humanistic Psychology and has a twenty-five year span of working in Human Services. He has received several awards and scholarships for demonstrated scholarly excellence and dedication to the field of psychology; with particular interests in Existential/Humanistic Psychology relative to diversity and human dignity.  However, through perseverance and determination, enlisting in the U.S. Army and beginning his formal educational pursuits at the community college level, he has since served in many capacities in the arena of Human Services to include but not limited to Director/Founder and Pastor/Psychotherapist at Be REAL Ministries, Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Professor of Psychology at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs and Adjunct Faculty member at Saybrook University in Oakland, California as part of the Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal Psychology Specialization and Transformative Social Change Specializations as well the PhD Clinical Psychology Degree Program.