Dear Reader,
Thank you for your interest in the 43rd issue of the 3rd Thursday Newsletter.
As it has (hopefully) become apparent to the reader, Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets is more than just a project to create an anthology of poetry of, about, and/or inspired by Tacoma. It is, at its core, intended to help strengthen the community of literary artists in our community by helping to weave together the lives of like-minded folk.
Community building exists only when there is trust and when folks are comfortable sharing their story with others. The literary arts community in Tacoma is an example of that trust and sharing and I want to highlight some of those businesses, institutions, and people who’ve had an impact on my literary career in Tacoma.
King’s Books has long been where writers and readers come together to hear and celebrate the written word at curated events, including book launches, festivals, and book club meetings.
Creative Colloquy set the standard for an organization dedicated to community programming. With events across the City, including workshops and monthly open mic readings, as well as an annual print collection (with 9 volumes so far), CC has inspired not only readers and writers, but has spawned a variety of like-minded outreach efforts (Voices of Tacoma included).
Our local colleges and universities have a huge impact on the literary arts community in Tacoma. Among the many other faculty at their respective institutions, Sarah A. Chavez, Ph.D., at University of Washington Tacoma, William Kupinse, Ph.D., at University of Puget Sound, and Allen Braden, MA, at Tacoma Community College, have personally been actively involved in helping to nurture and sustain our project and the area’s creative literary culture. The Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University has been a fountainhead for creative energy in our region and many of our poets voice the impact the program has had on their writing.
On the publishing front, Blue Cactus Press crafts books that serve the community and provide resources for and by writers from historically marginalized groups. In addition to creating books that “encourage community conversations and move us toward liberation,” BCP organizes workshops that nurture the community to stand up and make their voice heard.
For teen and young adult writers, Write253 is a literary arts and printmaking organization that works with and within schools, libraries, Remann Hall, and at hosted events at the current shop on Jefferson Avenue and around the City. The exciting news is that Write253 will be relocating to space within the Main Branch when it reopens, later this summer.
Similarly, but on a different track, I recently had the opportunity to experience a week-long Peacemaking Circle at Green River College, where I work. It was an incredible experience that brought folks into community, healing and weaving lives together. This experience allows participants to clearly see that it is the connections, and not the differences, that matter most in our lives. This is the essence, and the strength, of community building. This experience helped me to reflect on what it means to build community here in Tacoma.
Building community is a critical task in our world today. In the case of Voices of Tacoma, the outcome of our community work happens to be a beautiful book of poetry (with the work of 87 poets and Mauricio Robalino’s artwork). But the launch of the book will not be the end of the work. After the publication, after the last launch event has ended, after the last poet has put down the mic, our effort to strengthen our literary art community in Tacoma will continue.
Our next event is going to be the Poets Corner at the Hilltop Street Fair, on Saturday, August 24, 11am to 7pm. Come visit our booth and learn more about how you can get involved in our amazing literary community in Tacoma.
Pre-order your copy of the book here.
Order your "Check it Out at the Library" T-shirt here.
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