Profile avatar
megkearney.bsky.social
Author/poet (kids, teens, adults, megkearney.com); founding dir, Solstice MFA Program, Lasell U (MA): dedicated to nurturing an inclusive, safe community of writers since ’06. Fellowships, scholarships, Pedagogy + Social Action & Writing Track.
21 posts 516 followers 619 following
Prolific Poster

Our fourth annual poetry contest, the West Trade Review Prize for Poetry is now open. The grand prize is $1000 and publication in the spring 2026 print edition. Submit by 2/23, and we'll respond to your submission within 2 weeks. https://buff.ly/4g8RbOM #writingcommunity

Aspiring writers: Solstice Low-Residency MFA Program is one of the only writing programs in the country to offer a Pedagogy Track AND a Social Action & Writing Track + fellowships & need-based scholarships. Supporting an inclusive community since 2006, based in Boston but students can live anywhere.

Congrats to our alum Cathy Cultice Lentes, whose poem “Red Pens” appears in Mom Egg Review! Check it out here:

The best thing about @dieworkwear.bsky.social is that he can explain why the styles, fabrics, tailoring etc etc were so much better than a lot of what you see/get today but he's also the opposite of a political reactionary. Inspiration for those of us who study the old/traditional/prestigious

If I had a band or a label, I would do a punk cover of "No More Kings" from Schoolhouse Rock. And then I would gather a bunch of people to write a whole album of next-generation Schoolhouse Rock songs, with songs about Social Security and Medicaid and NOAA. I am not kidding in the least.

Aspiring writers: Solstice Low-Residency MFA Program near Boston, MA is designed for people w/ careers & families who need a flexible schedule & a supportive, inclusive community to bring their writing to the next level. Fellowships + need-based scholarships. Accepting apps for a July/fall start!

Murphy: "The game is clear. We can see it. They're not even hiding it. There is not a rule of law anymore. There is one set of law for people who are loyal to Donald Trump, and there is one set of law for people who care criticize him. That is not democracy."

Congrats to our alum Donna Coffey Little, whose novel Wofford's Blood has been named the Southern Literary Review's 2024 Book of the Year! See more about the recognition here:

if you see me looking at the moon while listening to sad songs, that counts as my writing for the day

Democrats can’t sustain this kind of rhetoric without action. At the federal level they need to hold a 24-7 vigil at the Capitol until the coup ends. At the state level they could seize federal assets until court orders are being followed. We’re already outside the regular constitutional order.

This is a good idea. Would love to see the Dem governors do this. Could add Rep govs who want to join the fight in the future if there are any.

As Trump-Musk-Vance attack the LGBTQIA+ community, allies across America are mobilizing in solidarity. I’ve convened a panel of advocates for an on-demand webinar sharing crucial analysis and resources for people oppose this vicious onslaught.

Now is the time for our citizenry to fight for our federal workers and national programs. Let’s stand up to the power-mad autocrats, plutocrats and theocrats attacking democracy—at home and abroad. I spoke with @briantylercohen.bsky.social about our historic assignment today.

If the Musk-rats will leak classified information, think what they will do with your private data as they rummage through our data systems. www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-m...

When they’ll use fake grand jury investigations as a pretext to claw back funds illegally, there’s a rot at the top.

And who is in the position to stop Rump, Elon, & Co from raiding Social Security? NO one?!

Scientists, doctors and public health professionals at the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, the FDA, and other federal agencies have been fired under President Trump’s effort to shrink the government.

Not surprised that it's community colleges that are fighting back. Community colleges serve the greatest number of people facing systemic barriers. A large percentage of community college students are the first in their family to attend college.

This literally makes me ill (with Kash's help, King Don saves the day, written by our soon-to-be FBI director): www.amazon.com/Plot-Against...

There’s a Project 2025 tracker to follow their progress and to see what’s ahead. The project Trump and the GOP disavowed because it was so unpopular and then began immediately to put in place. www.project2025.observer

@petebuttigieg.bsky.social So many of us are looking for brilliant, tough, and strategic Democratic leadership at this crucial moment. Will you step up and show the way?

Incompetence in Washington puts every American at risk, no matter how you voted. No one should be happy that the DOGE team - the same folks who randomly published classified U.S. security information online today - wants access to your bank account & Social Security numbers.

NIH funding at @UMich supports important medical research, such as extending the life of organs waiting for transplant, advancing treatments for cerebral palsy, and sustaining experimental genetic trials for children with brain cancer.

As DOGE began infiltrating government agencies and targeting federal staff for termination, I started interviewing tech workers on the front lines. With the mass layoffs unfolding today, and with their permission, I'm sharing their stories. This is what it's been like to endure Musk's campaign.

After going quiet on bird flu, CDC scientists have published a report on its spread among veterinarians. The findings suggest a need for better surveillance.

"With his authoritarian orders, the president—and his unelected South African Rasputin—have not only pre-emptively cut off discussion and debate, they have eliminated the fundamental tools of discussion and debate, namely words themselves."

The GOP budget is out. Republicans recently promised to love and cherish Medicaid. Their actual plan is to destroy it.

I hope that you (and the good people of Moynihan Train Hall) feel motivated to act in this critical moment.

Some good news for once. Solstice has been dedicated to nurturing an inclusive & supportive writing community since 2006. Fellowships, need-based scholarships, Pedagogy Track, Social Action & Writing Track. Low-residency structure = flexibility: write where you live!

Re-reading the (in)famous Horace Mann argument that *education is the great equalizer. We forget he was warning wealthy elites: if they didn't invest in education the poor would rise up and impale them with pitch forks, destroy their property and pour acid on their wives dresses

"Scale down. Talk with friends. Not over digital platforms, but face to face. What will big issues look like in practical terms where you live? How can you find out? What can you do about it?" Read this wisdom from Madeline ffitch over at @literaryhub.bsky.social. lithub.com/a-way-of-liv...

Our alum @ellenaustinli.bsky.social will facilitate a free virtual Mindful Poetry Moments session, centered on a Gabrielle Calvocoressi's poem, with The Well on Feb. 19 from 3-4 p.m. ET. Register here: www.thewell.world/events/2025/...

Tune in! Let’s talk!

Every Republican senator shares responsibility for what’s happening. They are complicit in, and share responsibility for, whatever mess Trump’s dangerous nominees cause. But a few GOP senators from purple(ish) states face reelection next year — and we’re going to shine a light on their complicity.

UPDATE: In her confirmation hearing, Linda McMahon handled tough questions from Democrats, and affirmed President Trump's plans to shrink, and potentially eliminate, the department.

Just finished THAT LIBRARIAN by @librarianjones.com. A book that should be required reading for anyone on a school/library board. My rage was visceral as I read about what she and other brave librarians deal with daily. They are heroes on the front lines. Waiting for the day you get your apology! 💪

Seriously, creative folks: Don't be afraid to let people know your stuff is out there for them, or worry that "now is not the time for that." People are stressed and freaked out and looking for the things that will give them a moment of rest and joy. It is EXACTLY the time for what we do. Tell them.

Here is the pre-RFK vaccination schedule for your kids. Please download it before he is confirmed and changes/deletes it. Give it to your pediatrician and say this is the schedule you want your kids on. Making this my pinned post.

NOW HIRING: Executive Director Lambda Literary is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to lead Lambda Literary as a powerful advocate against the suppression of LGBTQ narratives. This is a fully remote position with some travel within the US. Salary: $150k lambdaliterary.org/2024/08/now-...

You can fight the staggering cuts proposed for Medicaid! Matthew led a webinar training people to advocate for Medicaid with their Members of Congress—there’s a transcript too if video is tough for you! You’ll need to login to see this but you only need a free tier account, no paywall!

There’s something particularly sick about the richest man on earth trying to shut down an agency that has returned BILLIONS of dollars to Americans who were cheated by big corporations. We need to shut down the Elon Musk operation NOW.

Today is the 125th anniversary of Lift Every Voice & Sing being performed for the first time. Sing a Song was inspired by the history of our Black National Anthem. It's up to us to keep our history going strong. You can buy a copy here: shorturl.at/UYHtG Thank you for your support.