Hello! My name is Kelsey Camacho, and I’m currently one of the interns working on the Literary Arts Archive Project. I was born and raised in North Carolina, where I attended Elon University. I graduated in May 2014 and received my Bachelor’s Degree in English and creative writing. I’ve always known that I want to spend my life surrounded by literature and writing, so when I discovered Literary Arts, I thought it would be the perfect organization to get involved with! My next move after graduation was clear: I had to move to Portland as soon as possible.
As an archive intern, I listen to past lectures given by writers and artists who were part of the Portland Arts & Lectures series. During the recordings, I take notes on the speaker, highlight parts that I find fascinating, and transcribe quotes that help carry the heart of the lecture. The greatest part of being an archive intern is knowing that my work allows the public to hear these amazing lectures, which are broadcast on OPB each week. It’s incredible to listen to various writers who have visited Portland throughout the years—not only do the lectures provide new insights on writing and life in general, but they also inspire me to continue working in such a progressive, transformative field. As Franz Kafka once said, “I am nothing but literature, and can and want to be nothing else.”
Along with my internship at Literary Arts, I embrace my book nerd lifestyle as an employee at Powell’s Books, where my goal is to read everything. I also enjoy writing nonfiction prose and poetry, focusing specifically on travel and ideas of home. My latest writing project is a collection of essays on my father’s family and their experience as migrant farmers in the western United States. With such a strong and vibrant literary community, it’s safe to say that Portland has treated me well so far.
