Here's What Folks Are Saying...

"Dariana was engaging, thoughtful, energetic, and an amazing teacher for our students. They gravitated toward her activities and she made sure everyone's voice was heard. They were able to see how her work connected to what they learned in our classrooms while also seeing connections to the wider world. Dariana's programming was the highlight of our week or trips and activities for our 8th graders." -Jake Sumner 
"At our school we read a lot of poetry, but it is a rare treat to be able to hear a work performed by its creator. Dariana's performance was electric, powerful, and honest. You could feel the personal connection she was making with students as she shared stories about her life and the moments, experiences, and people that inspire her writing. Her thoughtfully crafted workshops with our students and staff provided spaces for reflection and a unique opportunity to share stories about who we are. I left feeling inspired, fulfilled, and more connected." -Erin Piper, Librarian, The Chestnut Hill School (MA)
[Dariana's] ability to build a space for the students to feel both safe and empowered to create and share their own writing -- many of them were feeling extremely wary and vulnerable coming in, and by the end of the workshop they had all built a strong creative community with one another. [Dariana] did this through a lot of modeling and some thoughtful prompts.This workshop empowered our students to trust themselves and one another and to let the creative literary process drive away fear and vulnerability. By using her own experience as a model and sharing her own work, Dariana inspired them to find and release their voices into a strong and supportive audience community -- and to create some incredible pieces as a result.  -Flavia Vidal, Director of Teaching and Learning, The Overlake School (WA)
 “ Dariana's stellar performance at our celebration of MLK Day 2023 was truly remarkable. With every line in her poetry her powerful words spoke volumes about the significance of community, inspiring us to continue strengthening our own. Dariana's profound understanding of her community and her ability to convey its essence left a lasting impression on everyone present. She spent time learning about our community beforehand and intuitively connected with our community. We will certainly invite her back to our Proctor community. ”  -Will Wamaru, Dean of Equity and Belonging, Proctor Academy (NH)