Welcome to the ChelaSphere

Hello there, Beloved Classmates!

Before our fabulous 50th High School Reunion (October 2025) I began weaving thoughts and impressions together for a project in which I welcome your participation.

We are living through a time of fierce national ambivalence toward immigrants, with sentiments ranging from welcome and compassion to hatred and hostility. And yet many of us are the grateful offspring of “immigrant stories.”

This project began as an idea to collect the stories of those whose parents, grandparents, or great-grands were from the “Old Country”. Initially, this meant pre-WWII Europe. As the idea continued to gestate the scope widened, and I realized that stories of pre-modern Anywhere would be wonderful contributions to this collection. I have come to understand that the “Old Country” could be any country or region before modern inventions and conveniences arrived. For the purposes of this collection, I would include pre-modern communities from every part of this planet — including regions of the United States, whether indigenous or settled.

I envision publishing a book that includes a brief introduction of you — my classmate — and whatever information you have to share of your forebears: including names, photos, representations of memorabilia from the Old Country, their stories, perhaps recipes that have endured. Dreaming a little, we might be able to create a Spotify list linking to the folk or traditional music you grew up with. What were the customs and the frictions you endured or enjoyed? What of them has remained with you, in you?

I am grateful for having attended Lowell when it was wildly diverse and represented the City so fabulously. Please join me in celebrating Our Class — and the stories of where we came from!