Courtney Luciana Photo
Mark Lamoureux.
Walking home to Wooster Street from a cleaning at the dentist on the first day of summer, Mark Lamoureux planned to get to some student papers — then some stretch out at yoga, followed by some family time.
Lamoureux, a professor in the English department at Housatonic Community College, is teaching an online creative writing/poetry course this summer.
“The school year was good, but it hasn’t been easy at all,” Lamouruex said in a conversation on the “Word on the Street’ segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. “The students are going through it, too, so you have to be aware of that. Sometimes you have to be a little bit more chill about things.”
Despite being triple vaxxed, Lamouruex said, he was initially nervous to return to the classroom but overall it felt good to hold classes in person this past academic year.
Acknowledging how students were coping with their academics throughout the pandemic was important to Lamoureux. He was understanding of the difficulties that the students were facing. Including students turning in their assignments on time.
“When students got Covid-19, I would tell them to rest and not worry about anything else,” Lamoureux said. “Deadlines are placed so that everything is organized and it does get harder sometimes with being chill about the deadlines, but my students come first.”
The last day of school in person at Housatonic Community College was May 25. The online course started the first week of June and ends on July 2.
The course isn’t organized on a set schedule. Students can go online at any time to complete their assignments.
For Wednesday’s workload, Lamoureux planned to give feedback on poems that students wrote. An author and poet himself, he has been writing since junior high.
After working on the summer course that morning, Lamouruex planned on hitting a yoga class in the afternoon. He has been attending Balanced Yoga Studio on Lexington Avenue for the past year.
“I also go to the Breathing Room located downtown,” Lamoureux said. “I’ve been going there for a long time. Yoga is a way to reconnect with your mind and your body. Sort of shut off thinking about life.”
After attending yoga, Lamoureux planned to spend time with 5‑year-old daughter and make dinner for his in-laws, who arevisiting.
Lamoureux has lived in the Wooster Square area since 2012. He moved to New Haven from New York City and misses it often. Still he said that he’s found enjoyment in attending punk and metal shows in New Haven .
“I’m definitely a city person,” Lamoureux said. “I’ll be seeing Zola Jesus and The Cult at College Street Music Hall” on July 24.
Lamoureux said that New Haven is a lot quieter than NYC.
“ I didn’t really have any expectations when we moved here,” Lamoureux said. “But you know, with being a poet, the only thing is that I just wish there were more open mics and open readings.”
To check out pieces written by Lamoureux click here and here.
Click on the video to watch the interview with Mark Lamoureux on WNHH FM's "Word on the Street."
