is a poet and essayist in the Twin Cities, Claudette is a native of Jamaica, West Indies. She has taught in the K-12 arena, at the college level and in community in New York and Massachusetts. Claudette has received fellowships from Cave Canem and North Country Institute and Retreat for Writers of Color. Her work has appeared in Essence, Pitkin Review, and Black Renaissance Noire. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Claudette is an avid walker; she loves communing with nature and making new friends. Writing and reading have been the central to her life since a child in Jamaica. She believes in the power of words, stories and storytelling to build bonds of connection and create community. As she is an avid walker, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find her walking in your neighborhood.