Yesterday morning, I watched the sun peek through clouds and tender green on trees, reminding me how spring is a season of renewal. With this spirit, I anticipate sharing my words at “Hope at the Center: Poetry Show” this Thursday, April 15!
My latest collection of poems “Hope at the Center”, to be released in tandem with the show, explores themes of migration and separation through social and personal histories. While wrestling generational wounds the collection seeks healing, a movement from death/darkness/despair to life/light/hope. The show’s image symbolizes this shift with a gerbera daisy emerging from a black background. Many thanks to Mark Darling for donating services for the poster design!
The journey toward hope and healing is basic to humanity on a collective and individual level. This journey parallels my experience as a survivor of sexual and domestic violence: the process of shaping a life-affirming path through tragedy’s pain, shame, and silence. So in anticipation of the show, I invited nonprofits serving survivors of violence to join and get word out about Sexual Assault Awareness Month during April.
My event partner is the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, which will receive half of the show proceeds. I like to describe MCADSV as the spine of local nonprofits offering direct services to survivors. The Coalition works at prevention of sexual and domestic violence at the state level as well as trains local providers. Also coming to the show are representatives from Take Back the Night and the MSU Sexual Assault Program.
Advocates will be at (SCENE) Metrospace when the doors open at 7:00pm, providing a great opportunity to learn about sexual assault prevention, services, and awareness raising efforts in Mid-Michigan. The show starts at 8:00pm with a multimedia performance of my newly released poems. This performance is interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing thanks to donated services by Shayla Riggs.
If you are unable to be at the show but still wish to contribute, your donation is most welcome! Please use this PayPal button to make your gift – and know that no amount is too small.
Thanks to donated services and a discount on printing promotional materials from Capital Imaging, expenses for the show round down to $100. After recuperating event expenses, one quarter of the door sales goes to the venue. The remaining amount will be equally divided between MCADSV and I. So online donations are very helpful. The ground tally will be published on my web site as well as blog after the event!
