Dear Readers,

We present to you That Which Remains, Volume 2. This project, in collaboration with the Holder Initiative at Columbia University, aims to uplift the voices of those often left out of the conversation while prioritizing healing through prose and poetry. 

Much like the first volume, TWR, Volume 2 was born during the pandemic, a time characterized by isolation, reflection, and renewal. This iteration, however, was forged during another phase of the pandemic—whereas 2020 played out in isolation, 2021 taught us how to be together again. We re-learned the nuances of conversation and tested the boundaries of interacting in person, an art that was lost upon us in 2020 and begged for renewal in 2021. These themes spilled over into the pages, and as the writers dealt with putting their pandemic reflections into practice, a new conversation emerged between the works of this volume.

“whereas 2020 played out in isolation, 2021 taught us how to interact again. We re-learned the nuances of conversation and tested the boundaries of interacting in-person, an art that was lost upon us in 2020 and begged for renewal in 2021.”

In our second volume, we continue the work of spotlighting stories and voices that are not often celebrated or recognized. The pieces that make up this volume are varied in topic and style but joined by common threads of survival, frustration, personhood and joy. The pursuit of justice against persecution in Victoria Sanford’s “We’ve Come for the Garbage,” is echoed by the weaving of tragedy and joy against the backdrop of identity-based discrimination in Kristin Mathis’ “Pietá.” hazel foley’s “viii.” and Erin Luna’s “Cuban Jute (Sida rhombifolia)'' examine individual wellness through the lens of labor and physicality. The critiques of inequality and American contradictions in Crystal Foretia’s “Kneel” are also present in Lina Zeldovich’s exploration of immigration, resilience and family in “One Day We Will Be Legal.” We are so grateful to all of the writers represented in this volume for sharing their powerful words and stories with our publication.

The experience of creating this volume was one of creativity and community, not only in what we were seeking from the writing but also through the process of editing itself. TWR Volume 2 was the first editorial experience for many members of the staff. As a team, being able to connect with each writer individually and discuss their drive, inspiration, and hope for these pieces and themselves at large was incredibly grounding. Our conversations taught us a new type of creativity—one that amplifies individual voices while simultaneously honoring the depths of what goes unsaid in these writers' works. These writers’ expressed a distinct intimacy of self and a dedication to remembrance that radiates through each piece of this volume. Although Zoom is never an ideal format in comparison to the tangible world, simply being able to have conversations rooted in attempts to make sense of themselves in relation to the new structure of the world around us, after these years of stifling isolation, was a privilege. 

On this MLK Day, as we reflect on not only this past year but all of those that preceded it, what becomes especially salient to us is what it means to be in community. Through the process of creating this journal, we cultivated a newfound appreciation for the art of connection and interaction. For this, we thank all of our writers and fellow editors for teaching us how to connect again. We also extend our gratitude to Harryette Mullen for sharing a piece of her life and identity with us so we can share it with you all. Lastly, we thank Chris Wolfe, our faculty advisor, for his devoted guidance throughout the process of this volume.

As you read this publication, we ask that you consider each piece as part of a conversation that does not end with this volume but merely begins with it. No matter how you come across That Which Remains, we hope that you carry it with you into the world, sharing it with others as a form of connection, healing, and justice.

In solidarity,

The TWR Board.