The HerStories Project

Updated February 16, 2011.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come at Embodying Our Words!

The program starts on Friday, February 18, at 12:30pm at Michigan State University’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities. The opening session is titled “HerStories Circle: now let us shift.” Joining us is Lauren Spencer, Program Coordinator from the MSU LGBT Resource Center, one of EOW’s sponsors.

We’ll explore Gloria Anzaldúa‘s essay “now let us shift . . . the path of conocimiento . . . inner work, public acts” (This Bridge We Call Home: Radical Visions for Transformation 2002). In celebration of Anzaldúa’s own story, participants are invited to read aloud quotes of personal interest. Additionally, we’ll share our own life stories that resonate with those words. These reflections are welcome in general conversation and creative forms, like poetry and storytelling. A web of potential topics include gender expression, cultural survival, healing from violence, dis/abilities, spiritual activism, and more.

Anzaldúa’s essay “now let us shift” provides a common place for the dialogue about embodied writing to begin. Also, activities throughout the program draw upon the essay for inspiration. The text isn’t required reading by any means, though participants are encouraged to take a look at it. A PDF version of the essay is available here: http://likeawhisper.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/anzaldua-now-let-us-shift.pdf.  And several locations will have the essay available, most likely by next week:

*Everybody Reads Bookstore (Lansing): Copies available for $1.50.
*MSU LGBT Resource Center: Free copies.
*Women’s Center of Greater Lansing: In-house use of the book containing the essay.