Allie Rigby
Petaluma
Allie Rigby's CV
Petaluma
Education
Scripps College
Environmental Studies
September 2012 - May 2014
Claremont
I transferred to Scripps in my junior year to study ecology, art, and environmental justice. My emphasis was on the role of public art and public spaces in cities, focusing on reclaimed public parks. My senior thesis explored the relative impact or success of public parks in Los Angeles, which often depended on whether the community nearest the park was consulted on their needs.
San Francisco State University
Masters in English: Creative Writing
August 2020 - August 2022
San Francisco
I earned a master's degree in English: Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Coursework involved literature, creative nonfiction, poetry workshops, teaching seminars, and more. Critical thinking, literary analysis, and the craft of writing were three key pillars of the program.
Published Articles
August, 2020
What does sustainability look like amidst COVID-19? How can “the push” toward net-zero inspire other companies to follow suit? This article explores two brands and a climate collaboration initiative.
May, 2020
This is a tricky time for small businesses and farmers around the world. We hope this webinar offers a bit of hope, and solid reason to move forward with sustainable initiatives because of uncertain times—not only despite them.
June, 2020
Latrece Johnson is an elementary teacher, environmental educator, and author of several science books. This summer, Latrece offered a Virtual Peninsula Summer Camp that brought science education to campers in a virtual way, despite COVID-19 challenges.
July, 2020
Mallory believes that “facts are better understood through stories, curiosity should never be smothered, and the power of one should empower many.” What does this look like in the current face of COVID-19? Mallory has some ideas!
May, 2014
The Reclamation of Public Parks: An Analysis of Environmental Justice in Los Angeles/Scripps Senior Theses/ Claremont
This study focuses on Vista Hermosa Natural Park, Grand Park, and Los Angeles State Historic Park. It combines previous research with site visits and interviews that explore the degree of success these recent reclamation movements have experienced.
May, 2020
In our Educator Highlights, we go behind-the-scenes with educators who inspire us. We’re kicking off this series with an interview with wildlife camerawoman Erin Ranney, whose education and conservation efforts in Alaska and Washington State stopped us in our tracks.
February, 2021
What does it mean that a poet — and perhaps only a poet — could find the words to acknowledge the lack of democracy in American history, and also hold politicians to a higher standard of social justice that we as citizens have yet to see?
March, 2021
There is a new publishing press in Redlands, California and a driven team behind it, including five sisters. Meet Katia Aoun Hage, the founder of Elyssar Press, and her four sisters—Samar Hage, Nadia Boulos, Maryse Naaman and Stephanie Bou Karam.
March, 2021
Small presses are one key part of keeping the literary scene inclusive, diverse, and vibrant since they offer more voices in the selection process of what gets published. Here are 15 small presses that are currently seeking submissions.
March, 2021
Our team has been hard at work finalizing the first anthology that Elyssar Press is publishing. The Beirut Call is a collection of first-hand accounts by artists, scholars, poets, and activists exploring the August 4th, 2020 Beirut port explosion
March, 2021
"I attended a few virtual Open Mics, but I still could not shed the doubt lurking deep in my conscious. Why are you even reading at this event? That poem was no good. My inner critic can be so harsh. Even with supportive online readings I had attended, it was hard to [...]."
March, 2021
The Beirut Call, coming out this April, is one of Nabad’s latest projects in Lebanon. This anthology offers a collection of first-hand accounts by artists, scholars, poets, and activists exploring the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion on August 4th of 2020.
March, 2021
Challenging Bigotry & Mainstream Silence Around Hate Crimes/Medium
Words have always the power to illuminate historic injustices, acknowledge ongoing patterns, and imagine alternative worlds - the question is, what words get the attention of the public? Of the policy-makers?
April, 2021
Creative writing, poetry, and placemaking are all ways to connect complex scientific ideas and to explore relationships to the environment. Writing, and the various ways in which humans share ideas and stories, is also part of a longer tradition of storytelling.
June, 2022
The virtual book launch, hosted by the Shuffle Collective, celebrates this crucial anthology about resilience & resistance culture in Lebanon. Collectively, the art, poetry, academic testimonials, analyses, narratives, and stories in this work and demand social change. Below are
May, 2021
As public parks and schools continue to open across California, this summer will feel different than last. Now is the time to expand outdoor learning programs and, in anticipation for fall, build school communities that heal.
May, 2021
In our Educator Highlights, we go behind-the-scenes with educators who inspire us. This season, we’re excited to feature Day Scott, a wildlife photographer, environmental educator, and birder known for her playful and educational social media posts aka “Bird Stories."
August, 2021
August 4th, 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. There are still individuals in need of support who are driving forth relief efforts, as well as elevating the arts in Beirut as one way to demand change and government accountability.
November, 2021
There are 11 novels by Toni Morrison. How many of them contain subtle nods to each other?
February, 2022
Winter is an important time to assess, prepare, and lead prescribed fires, for members of ACR's Fire Forward team and the Good Fire Alliance.
Published Poems
November, 2018
Poem published in Issue 26 of Cholla Needles, a non-profit literary press
December, 2018
Poem Published for Year IV, Number 23. Independent Monthly Literary Magazine.
May, 2019
Poem published in Issue 30 of Cholla Needles, a non-profit literary press
November, 2018
The White Orchid/The Kerf Seeks/ Redwood City
Poem published in 2019 annual issue dedicated to "themes related to humanity or environmental consciousness"
March, 2019
No. 4 Issue Theme: wilderness
January, 2019
Poem Published for Year IV, Number 23. Independent Monthly Literary Magazine.
February, 2019
Poem Published for Year IV, Number 23. Independent Monthly Literary Magazine.
January, 2019
Poem Published for Year IV, Number 23. Independent Monthly Literary Magazine.
March, 2019
No. 4 Issue Theme: wilderness
March, 2019
No. 4 Issue Theme: wilderness
April, 2019
Poem published in Issue 30 of Cholla Needles, a non-profit literary press
November, 2018
If Hope Is The Thing With Feathers/The Kerf Seeks/ Redwood City
Poem published in 2019 annual issue dedicated to "themes related to humanity or environmental consciousness"
February, 2020
Small publisher dedicated to emerging and established poets
February, 2020
Online publication dedicated to "nurturing experimental writing and art"
March, 2020
Online publication dedicated to "nurturing experimental writing and art"
April, 2020
Online publication dedicated to "nurturing experimental writing and art"
February, 2020
Radio excerpt: "Today’s essay is from Allie Rigby, she’s an outdoor educator in Petaluma California, an area known for the thick fog that blankets the rolling hills."
September, 2020
No. 5 Issue Theme: chairoscuro
February, 2021
Online publication dedicated to "nurturing experimental writing and art"
July, 2021
Poem to appear in Issue 11. Parentheses Journal is an independent literary journal based in Ontario, Canada.
February, 2021
Winter 2021 Issue of Beehouse Journal
March, 2021
Press Record Now/Postscript Magazine/ United Arab Emirates
Postscript was established in Paris in March 2018 and is currently based in the UAE. They work with contributors from around the world.
September, 2021
Postscript is an online magazine that publishes social and cultural narratives which are usually allocated to the footnotes. Poem selected for Issue 40: Sick.
September, 2023
My debut poetry manuscript will be released in 2023 by indie publisher, Bored Wolves. Stay tuned!
Professional Experience
Editor, Writer
Sunlight editingFebruary 2019 - Present
Petaluma
At Sunlight Editing, I work with small businesses dedicated to social and environmental change. Since launching in 2019, I have written copy for environmental schools, run social media for small businesses, edited manuscripts for small presses, and produced articles for blogs.
Naturalist
Walker creek ranchSeptember 2014 - February 2020
I worked with students in the Bay Area for their one week of focused science. Student-centered learning is our core value at Walker Creek, and I felt lucky to facilitate social growth, connections to science, and connections to nature. Each week, I worked closely with a group of 20-25 students.
Environmental Educator
All Children AcademicsOctober 2020 - Present
San Rafael
I work as an educator with first and second-grade students who have various learning needs. With my background in environmental education, I hope to support and learn alongside students who are either on the spectrum or experience high-anxiety.
Awards & Honors
March, 2020
This Literary Arts Residency is a 6-month program that brings together writers from all literary backgrounds to build community, develop professionally, and hone their craft. The 2020 cohort was selected for their "literary prowess, vision, and dedication to community-building."
December, 2020
Thank you to Manzano Mountain Press for the Pushcart Prize nomination for one of my poems! "The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America."
September, 2021
"Orange Peel" nominated by Manzano Mountain Review for a Best of the Net Prize. Thank you so much for the honor and nomination!
March, 2020
Honored as a William Dickey Fellow, an award for two incoming graduate students in the poetry department at San Francisco State University. This fellowship is "selected by Creative Writing MFA faculty from amongst the most highly talented writers in the current admittees."
Press Mentions
February, 2019
Shout-out from my Alma Mater, Scripps College, where I learned to start using my voice.
February, 2020
Living on Earth gives a voice to Orion Magazine’s longtime feature in which readers write about their favorite places. "This week Allie Rigby takes us to the hills of the Bay Area, where the fog blankets the landscape each day like clockwork."
Exhibitions
April, 2022
Six artist-pairs are exhibiting their work under the theme "genetically united" for this exhibition in Santa Ana, California. Show will be open to the public for the month of April, primarily Thursdays-Sundays. Please wear a mask.
March, 2022
Title Pending/Aqus Cafe/ Petaluma
The North Bay Letterpress Arts have a show at Aqus Cafe that features broadsides by North Bay studio printers.