James Lavilla-Havelin

Who is James Lavilla-Havelin?

James Samuel Havelin is American poet, editor and educator. Havelin founded the poetry series Poetry Central in Rochester the early 1970s. He also edited the Poetry Central Newsletter, which provided information on literary events in the upstate New York region. Poetry Central also collaborated on several literary events in conjunction with other area organizations, such as the English and Continuing Education departments of the University of Rochester, the Writer's Forum at SUNY Brockport, and Rochester Poets, of which he was member.

After several years working as a manager at Scrantom's, a Rochester, NY area stationery-bookstore chain in the 1970s, he briefly moved to Boston. While there, he was active in the New England Resistance, an anti-war draft resistance organization, and lived in the office in the shadow of the Boston Police Department. During this time he numerous poetry readings. In 1969 co-founded Charon Press with friends and colleagues Dave Roberts and Chip Schramm.

He later returned to Rochester and took a position at the University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery directing educational programs.