News Release ------------------------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2023 CONTACT INFORMATION Burl E. Battersby, agatheringofpoets@gmail.com, (206) 406-8839 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068839> ------------------------------ Launch of Tacoma-Themed Poetry Anthology and Writers Workshops TACOMA, Wash. -- Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets is a project to create an anthology of poetry of Tacoma, the first to be published in several years. Writers of all ages and from anywhere are invited to submit their original poetry, inspired by Tacoma, to be considered for inclusion in the anthology. The anthology, which will be published in Fall 2024, seeks to amplify the voice of those who may not have had the opportunity to share their poetry in the past. The project is being coordinated by Tacoma writer Burl Battersby and is funded in part through the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. “The goal is to gather the diverse voices together, to build on the rich literary community of the South Sound,” said Battersby. The project includes several free public components to help support writers. These events will take place in various neighborhoods across Tacoma: - A monthly hybrid writers group where attendees can learn about the project, read their poetry, and hear the work of other poets. The first meeting will be held May 31, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, at Tacoma Public Library’s Moore Branch (215 S. 56th St.) or at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83439047676?pwd=SzF2NElDSm5OMS9JU3R1akRJWHZYUT09 <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F83439047676%3Fpwd%3DSzF2NElDSm5OMS9JU3R1akRJWHZYUT09&data=05%7C01%7Cburl.battersby%40greenriver.edu%7Ce0a33122390e4f1bd25908db45d561ef%7Cfa40663e972749789bce776cf824bca5%7C0%7C0%7C638180555017400237%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NtUSSnII%2BDI2pjrOgr6i6kRuiEDd6ghi2H7VMEDMwj0%3D&reserved=0> . - Four free poetry workshops, starting in September, to be facilitated by local poets, writers, editors, and publishers To learn more about Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets, check out tinyurl.com/BEugeneB or follow the project on Instagram @agatheringofpoets <https://www.instagram.com/agatheringofpoets/>. Burl Battersby (he/him) lives in the South End of Tacoma. He is the Director of Green River College’s Kent Campus and writes poetry, fiction, and essays under the name B. Eugene B. His most recent book, Wild Rose & Other Poems Sung by the Window, was published in April 2023. ### Burl E. Battersby *Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets* A *Tacoma Arts Initiative Program *Project Be! Eugene Be! Creative <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/> (206) 406-8838 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068838> <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068838>