3rd Thursday Newsletter Issue: 29 Date: June 15, 2023 Dear Reader, Continuing in this 29th issue of the 3rd Thursday Newsletter <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/newsletter>, I will be chronicling the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program <https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/community_and_economic_development/office_of_arts/funding> project to compile and publish an anthology of poetry of Tacoma. The project is called Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets. Continue reading below to learn more. ------------------------------ This past Tuesday Creative Colloquy <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/> brought together live music w/ Kristen Marlo, and storytellers Nicole McCarthy, Terrell Fox, Christina Vega and Philip H. Red Eagle at Edison Square <https://www.facebook.com/edisonsquaretacoma/> for A Veteran Storytelling Event. With the festivities sponsored by Fosters Creative, Incline Cider and Asado, and proceeds benefiting National Alliance to End Veteran Suicide <https://www.na2evs.org/>. It was an amazing event and hopefully will become an annual event. Check out Creative Colloquy’s website <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/> to read some of the coolest stories <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/published-stories> you’ll find from South Sound writers and poets. And remember, they are always taking submissions <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/submissions>! Taking a (well deserved) summer hiatus, Creative Colloquy Open Mic and Literary Readings will return in September. ------------------------------ Christina Vega, founder of Blue Cactus Press <https://bluecactuspress.com/>, is facilitating a Single-Parent Writing Workshop on June 23 at 7pm at La Paloma Tacoma <https://www.facebook.com/lapalomatacoma>. This generative writing workshop is designed for single parents and participants “can expect to generate new writing, witness and share stories of transformation surrounding parenting and creativity, and engage in guided self-reflection exercises” all in the amazing space that is La Paloma. Check it out! ------------------------------ Tacoma Writes <https://www.instagram.com/tacomawrites/> will be at Heritage Coffee & Plant House <https://www.facebook.com/theneighborhoodplantprojectllc/> on June 27th, 6pm to 8pm. Check out their Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/p/CtRZ3YgLk1A/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==> post and come build a community of Tacoma writers! ------------------------------ The Tacoma Arts Commission <https://www.facebook.com/TacomaArtsCommission> is accepting nominations for the 2023 AMOCAT Arts Awards! Award Categories are Community Outreach by an Individual, Community Outreach by an Organization, and Arts Patron. Make a nomination by July 30 via Submittable <https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit?fbclid=IwAR1a3wM0bvkSbRmaslMYQLQU4CHagMKaTqYb-HtGbVAo0YbWHOr1ky2tP0g> . ------------------------------ Write253 <https://www.write253.com/> is at the Juneteenth celebration at the Washington State History Museum from 5:30pm to 8:00pm tonight printing a poetry print. There is also a reading with the African American Writers Alliance and some Write253 youth so don’t miss out! The Washington State History Museum is also hosting a Juneteenth Celebration <https://www.washingtonhistory.org/event/honoring-juneteenth/> on Monday the 19th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Write253 will also be at the Tacoma Pride Festival <https://tacomapride.org/> on Saturday, July 8, from 12:00pm to 05:00pm selling Pride-themed prints made by local youth. There is also a Write253 fundraising event in the works for August - stay tuned for more information coming soon! ------------------------------ June 15, 2023 Chronicle of Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets - Part 2 Dear Reader, For this 29th issue of the 3rd Thursday Newsletter <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/newsletter> we will continue to follow the story of the making of an anthology, a Tacoma Artists Initiative Program, called Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets. Since the last installment of the newsletter, a lot has happened. The most significant milestone reached was on May 31st when the first Gathering of Poets was held at the Moore Branch of the Tacoma Public Library. It was a great feeling being surrounded by like-minded Creatives who came to hear poetry and/or share their words (and images). Some read their poems, some read other’s poems, some worked on art, and some just came to enjoy the poetic camaraderie. Planning is well under way for the second Gathering of Poets, to be held at the South Tacoma Branch <https://www.tacomalibrary.org/locations/6/> of Tacoma Public Library (TPL) on June 28th (last Wednesday of the month). We will be meeting at the library branch locations – a different one each month – with hopes to have the chance to see them all. There will also be opportunities to meet in other venues, such as Mad Hat Tea Co <https://madhattea.com/>. and Heritage Coffee & Plant House <https://www.hcphtacoma.com/> to name two, so stay tuned to the event page <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/a-gathering-of-poets/upcoming-events> for updates! ------------------------------ I have been working to develop partnerships and do outreach in ways I have not done before. I have met many TPL staff in my travels, as well as small business owners, literary entities, and interested parties. I have been doing a significant amount of research on ways to build on the outreach efforts and bring the community together more. I have found out that I really enjoy this type of work and I am discovering new things each day, which is exciting for me. One thing we’re working towards is a booth at the Hilltop Street Fair <https://www.hilltopba.org/events>. Building on an idea Mauricio Robalino <https://www.artpeople.com/> shared at the last Gathering, we will create a “poets’ corner” where people can come to learn about poetry but also share their story of Tacoma (in the form of a poem or a story). I can’t wait to share more soon! ------------------------------ More information about Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets - The second Monthly Poet Gathering (a hybrid writer's group) will be held at 6:30pm on June 28 at Tacoma Public Library - South Tacoma Branch <https://www.tacomalibrary.org/locations/6/>. All of the meetings will also be accessible via Zoom. For more information check out Voices of Tacoma <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/a-gathering-of-poets> or scan the QR code below. - There will be four poetry workshops facilitated by local poets, publishers, and literary artists. These will start in September and we have a couple of exciting facilitators lined up already. - The third component is the poetry submission process, (open to poets of all ages and from anywhere). The topic of the anthology is poetry about, or inspired by, Tacoma. The plan is to open the submissions in early 2024. - The last component is the compilation and editing of the poetry anthology, with a publishing date in Fall 2024. There will be poetry readings where all contributors will be invited to participate and celebrate their work and all contributing poets will receive a copy of the anthology. For questions or media inquiries about the project, please contact agatheringofpoets@gmail.com. This project is partly funded by the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. ------------------------------ If you liked this month’s newsletter, check out the others in the archive <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/newsletter-archive>. Please share this newsletter and, if you received it from a friend, visit my website <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/home> to learn more. <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/home> Copyright© 2023 by Burl E. Battersby All Rights Reserved