Welcome to the Spring 2025 edition of Greenfield Community College’s literary journal, Plum! The publication was on hiatus, and we are so pleased to have brought it back to life. Here, you’ll find writing and art by GCC students, alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as that of regional neighbors. The work of experienced writers and artists appears alongside work by individuals new to publication. We received a large volume of submissions, and the process of determining which pieces would be included in Plum wasn’t easy. Thank you to each person who took the leap and sent in their work.
Many people beyond our core team helped with the publication of Plum and the readings that accompanied it: Erica Goleman, Candace Hope, Erin Shabunin, John Markoski, Bjorn Silvia, Kady Woods, Tim Dolan and the staff at the GCC Library, our friends at the Greenfield Public Library, faculty from the GCC English and Art Departments, and the staff of GCC’s Marketing and Communications Department. Thank you! Thanks as well to the individuals who brought Plum to light years ago, and Lacuna before that: Leo Hwang, Christine Jones-Monahan, Wendy Barnes, Maria Williams, and the students who worked with them. A special thanks to Martín Espada for his willingness to be interviewed for Plum.
On a personal note, I feel lucky to have worked alongside GCC interns/editors Lindel Hart, Tommy Nielsen, and Maura Ronan, each of whom brought their own experience, creativity, and dedication to the effort. Publicity, outreach, design, editing, organizing, communicating, and supporting one another were all part of the mix. Throughout the process, the team worked to stay true to the mission of Plum: to provide a platform that nurtures the creative potential of students, celebrates the writing and art alive in our region, and creates an engaging exchange that enriches the community.
Enjoy!
Cindy Snow, Faculty Advisor for Plum