On May 17th, 2014 I have the honor of co-facilitating the Untamed and Authentic Women Writers Workshop, at the Bronx Literary Festival 2014. Special thanks to all those who participated and came out in support. Your combined efforts with those of the Bronx Literary Festival Committee made it a huge success.
Thank you to the incredible women writers who participated in the
Untamed and Authentic Women Workshop. It was an enriching and joyous experience seeing women sharing the beauty and power of their voices as well as being supportive of each other, in a safe and freeing space. We left joyful, affirmed and empowered.
On April 25TH, 2014 I was honored to be invited as a featured poet to participate in Break the Silence. Break the Silence is an annual poetry reading addressing sexual violence and founded by Psycho-therapist Anne Crothers. It was an incredible experience, one I will never forget. I sat listening intently, to an audience filled with amazing and courageous men and women.
I listened as each person shared his and her story. There were stories of horrifc experiences and tears of victory as well as joy. We were there together supporting each other and celebrating our victories. This is a subject dear to me and one I’m actively engaged in working, advocating for its eradication, and the safety of all men, women and children.
Thank you, Anne Crothers and Yodi Duane Vaden for your commitment, work, hospitality and friendship. I’m looking forward to our continued working together. Seen in this photo from left to right Yodi Duane Vaden, Anne Crothers, Lorraine Currelley, Deirdre Van Walters and Femi J. Johnson.
On May 3rd, 2014 Poets Network & Exchange Scholar Lecture Series, presented Ogboni: A Panel Discussion and Featured
Poetry Reading. Our esteembed Ogboni panel addressed issues
and concerns men of color face in publishing and as writers.
The concept Ogboni is a fraternal institution indigenous to the Yoruba language. The Ogboni are recognized for their veneration
of the personified earth and benevolent service to the community. Our four panelist and featured poets exemplify this concept.
Our Esteemed Ogboni Cirlce: Gary Johnston, Jason Koo, Jesus Papaleto Melendez, and William S. Peters, Sr. with Co-Moderator, Robert Gibbons and Lorraine Currelley, Founder/Director Poets Network & Exchange
Our Esteemed Orgboni Circle of featured panelists and poets included:
GARY JOHNSTON, (panelist & poet)
New York State Foundation on the Arts Fellow and winner of the William C. Wolfson Award for Poetry, a BRIO Award, Bronx ACE Award for Poetry. And Herbert H. Lehman College Award for Poetry. Mr. Johnston is a member of Poets and Writers, Bronx Council on the Arts and African Diaspora Poets. He is co founder of Blind Beggar Press Inc.
JASON KOO, (panelist & poet)
Founder / Executive Director of Brooklyn Poets. He’s the author of America’s Favorite Poem (C&R Press, 2014) and Man on Extremely Small Island (C&R Press, 2009), winner of the De Novo Poetry Prize and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop Members’ Choice Award for the best Asian American book of 2009. He earned his BA in English from Yale, his MFA in creative writing from the University of Houston and his PhD in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The winner of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Vermont Studio Center and New York State Writers Institute,
he has published his poetry and prose in numerous journals, including the Yale Review, North American Review and Missouri Review. He is an assistant professor of English at Quinnipiac University and lives in Brooklyn Heights.
JESUS “PAPOLETO” MELENDEZ, (panelist & poet)
Born and raised in El Barrio (also known as “East Harlem” or “Spanish Harlem,” He published his first poem, “Message To Urban Sightseers” in Talkin’ About Us (NY, 1969). He went on to publish his first volumes of poetry, Casting Long Shadows (NY, 1970), Have You Seen Liberation (NY, 1971), and Street Poetry & Other Poems (Barlenmir House, NY 1972), which firmly established Meléndez in the Nuyorican community. During the 1970s, he worked as a teacher-poet for Teachers & Writers Collaborative, a group of writers and educators who believed that writers could make a unique contribution to the teaching of writing.
Meléndez is credited as one of the original founders of the Nuyorican Movement. Headquartered in New York City in El Barrio, the movement evolved during the late 1960s and forged a distinctly “Nuyorican” aesthetic and consciousness. Meléndez’ early and close collaboration with poets and writers such as Miguel Algarín, Pedro Pietri, Sandra Maria Esteves, Miguel Piñero, Lois Elaine Griffith, Ntozake Shange and Tato Laviera contributed to the founding of the Nuyorican Poets Café in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, which helped to foster a fertile environment for an emerging generation of Puerto Rican writers, scholars and artists raised predominantly in New York.
WILLIAM S. PETERS Sr. (panelist & poet)
Is a Writer / Poet, Spoken Word and Recording Artist. He is also a
social activist, Reiki Master, Blogger, radio show personality public speaker / workshop leader, producer, consultant empowerment coach, CEO Inner Child Enterprises, publisher: Inner Child Press, Director of Publicity : Society Hill Music, Inc. and columnist.
To learn more visit: http://www.iamjustbill.com/all-me.php#sthash.qQMxGGM5.dpuf
WILLIAM WASHINGTON (poet)
“Words of William” Washington, is a Motivational Speaker, Street Preacher, Poet, and Spoken Word Artist, also he is the Blogtalk Radio host, of “The Village Speaks Hosted By William Washington”, from which he is taking a short hiatus, in order to further his career, as a Professional Poet, and Show Emcee. He has opened up for the Classic Soul singing group, “Greg Hill & The Delfonics Revue”, on several occasions. He is currently starring in the Off-Off BroadwayShowcase- Sistahs Black Like Me Presents “Faces I, II, and III”, at the Mist Harlem Theater. William Washington is, the author of the controversial book, “The Nigger Chronicles/The Mispronunciation Of Who I Am”. William is 55 years of age. A native New Yorker, and life long Epileptic. Poetry and prayer, is his therapy. Reaching one person’s heart, and mind, is his cure.
Thank you, Gary Johnston, Jason Koo, Jesus Papaleto Melendez William S. Peters Sr. and William Washington, our distinguished Ogboni panel and featured poets for an inspiring, informative, passionate, invigorating, insightful, and enriching discussion. Your scholarship, expertise, experience, and knowledge was deeply appreciated by all in attendance.
On Saturday April 12th, 2014 Poets Network & Exchange Scholar Lecture Series Welcomed Author Cheryl Willis Hudson. Who is
Cheryl Willis Hudson? CHERYL Willis Hudson is editorial director of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company that focuses on Black interest books for children and young adults. She and her husband Wade Hudson, founded Just Us Books in 1988 to address the need for more African American children’s books in the market place.
Ms. Hudson has authored many books for young children including AFRO-BETS ABC and 123 Books, Hands Can, Good Morning, Baby, Glo Goes Shopping, Many Colors of Mother Goose and Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, (co-authored with Bernette Ford). She has also co-edited a number of titles including How Sweet the Sound: African American Songs for Children (Scholastic, Inc.), Kids’ Book of Wisdom: Quotes from the African American Tradition and In Praise of Our Fathers and Our Mothers…
Construction Zone was published by Candlewick Press in 2006. My Friend Maya Loves to Dance (illustrated by Eric Velasquez) was published by Abrams in 2010. From Where I Stand in the City (illustrated by Nancy Devard) is one of her titles published under the Marimba Books multicultural imprint.
In 2003 Ms. Hudson was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of diversity in literature and has served as an parenting expert for ClubMom. She is also a member of PEN America’s Children Book Committee.
Thank you, Cheryl Willis Hudson for an informative, enlightening, and phenomenal afternoon at the historical Countee Cullen Branch
NYPL. To contact Cheryl Willis Hudson visit the links below.
Poets Network & Exchange Scholar Lecture Series, Colorism: The Psychological, Emotional, Spiritual, Social, Political and Economic Impact of Colorism on Black Women. J.P. Howard at podium and scholar lecturers Mercy Tullis-Bukhari and Lora Rene’ Tucker Robert Gibbons
What is colorism? Colorism is discrimination based on skin color, a form of prejudice or discrimination in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color.
This scholar lecture discussion was not a light skin versus dark skin discussion. It was a powerful and passionate sharing of personal experiences. It sought to explore how colorism negatively impacts Black women’s lives psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, economically and politically. One of the many questions asked
was Why is Lupita Nyongo’ important to Black women?
Lupita Nyongo is important and is a symbol to Black women and girls of color because she exemplifies positive self esteem, ethnic and cultural pride. She embraces the beauty of her complexion. This embracing did not happen without personal struggle. The struggle to learn to love herself living in a society which demonizes Black women and defines Black women as unattractive, undesirable and angry. We also wanted to address bleaching. Black women largely on the African continent and the carribean bleaching their skin and rejecting their ethnic and cultural heritage. We attempted as individuals and collectively to go beyond the surface. We wanted to debunk the myth that Black women do not love themselves and are dying to be white. Striving at any cost to achieve societies white skin, blue eyes blond hair standard. We wanted to bring together women and girls who love themselves and are proud of their ethnic and cultural heritage. We came together to work for solutions and strategies.
What do we know for sure? We know many Black women and women of color are in desperate need of healing and restoration. We know our very lives depend on us as Black women changing and replacing the present
paradigm embedded in a white supremacist misogynist patriarchal ideology.
Featured speakers were poet/writer/educator Mercy Tullis- Bukhari,
mental health and bereavement counselor Lorraine Currelley and licensed social worker/therapist Lora Rene’Tucker. Mercy Tullis-Bukhari an Afro-Latina spoke of colorism within the Hispanic community. The consensus was and remains, Black women are in trouble. Lacking self love, and self esteem crisis. Black women and girls are walking around with damaged psyches and spirits.
This was an interactive workshop. Stories and poems were part of the process. Literature was distributed and attendees were assured of the safety of the space and that if speaking all confidentiality would be honored. Attendees spoke passionately about their experiences. Therapists, and counselors were present. Attendees left feeling empowered and determined to return to their communities with information and to work to eradicate this crisis and empower Black women and girls.
Scholar and Lecturer Robert GibbonsProfessor Robert Gibbons’lecture and workshop
at the Countee Cullen was outstanding the level of scholarship shared with attendees was a testament to Professor Robert Gibbons. We could not have done it without you. Professor Gibbons shared historical information and distributed documentation. The purpose of Poets Network & Exchange Scholar Lecture Series is to provide opportunities for scholars of all disciplines to give lectures and workshops. We wish to do this via the historical African oral traditions. We are delighted by the presence of those who attended and the village spirit of loving support. Here is an overview the content of Professor Robert Gibbons lecture and discussion. Scholar and Lecturer Robert Gibbons
“The color of my mind is more important than the color of my skin” were the words of Babette Deutsch, a critic of the magazine called the Nation. The color of my mind workshop will be more than a mere creative writing workshop. It will attempt to challenge the systemic ideals of race, identity, and class through the lens of two Harlem Renaissance poets: Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes. It will not be just another history lesson of the Harlem Renaissance, but it will use the Renaissance as a backdrop. It will use the metaphor of sankofa which means “to look back in order to look forward.” To bring forth a new renaissance in our own literary lives. We will have a chance to investigate and contemplate on the struggles, the determination, and efforts of the writer of those times and make comparisons to struggles of these times. This workshop will transcend traditional thinking. It is not a workshop exclusively for people of color, but this workshop makes available the efforts of a diverse range of people in American society. To explore the differences in the poets and the similarities in them and ourselves. So we should examine the relationship of the poets and poetry outside the traditional literary circle. To create a platform for free expression. To open this sphere we have to search the treasure troves of primary and secondary sources such as journal entries, biographies, and newspaper articles. This workshop will not only give the participants a chance to learn of our literary ancestors but take this information to use it present-day knowledge of literary arts and culture.” – Robert Gibbons
Scholar lecturer Robert Gibbons provided an enlightening afternoon of scholarship! Words cannot express the jubilation I’m experiencing at this moment. I’m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. Professor Robert Gibbons you’re brilliant!!! The depth of scholarship you were able to share in such a short span of time is nothing short of remarkable. It was difficult to focus on my writing , I wanted to just sit and listen to your words. I enjoyed the stimulating workshops discussions. I am blessed to have sat under your scholarship. Your reading was magnificent!
Thank you, Ed Toney, for facilitating the open mic, Ed Currelley video, Serena Cuebas administrative assistant, our wonderful drummers and trumpeter and our workshop attendees. (photo credit William Washington.
Poets Network & Exchange, Inc. 