Samina Najmi
Samina Najmi teaches multiethnic US literature at California State University, Fresno. Her memoir-in-essays, Sing Me a Circle: Love, Loss, and a Home in Time, won the Aurora Polaris Award in Creative Nonfiction and was published by Trio House Press in Oct, 2025. It has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and is featured among Poets & Writers’ five nonfiction debuts of the year. It is also included in the Best of 2025 roundups by Debutiful and the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP). Samina’s essays have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and won other honors. Daughter of multiple migrations, Samina grew up in Pakistan and England, and has lived in Fresno since 2006. Here she has watched with wonder her children, her students, and her citrus grow.
Fresno Harp Circle
The Fresno Harp Circle began 15 years ago, when Laura Porter encouraged a group of adult harpists to gather each month to enjoy playing music together. Almost all of these musicians began playing harp as adults and would like you to know that it is never too late to learn a new instrument! They perform rarely so you are a lucky bunch. Those performing tonight are Brenden Gillis, Kimberly Klassen, Jeanne Benke, Mary Smith, Kathryn Johnsen, Alice Cover, Natalie Samuelson and Laura Porter. The group is indebted to Laura for taking the time from her work to lead us, since she not only teaches privately but also at Fresno State, FCC, and University High. She is in her 37th year as principal harpist at the Fresno Philharmonic. The others of the group have diverse vocations: retired nurse, retired teacher, retired office manager, video editor, travel agent, cytogenetic technologist, and a recent Fresno State graduate, who plans to be a harp teacher & professional harpist.