View this newsletter online <https://shoutout.wix.com/so/1eO_1c3bN?languageTag=en> Mauricio Robalino, Voices, 2010 Gouache 3rd Thursday Newsletter Issue: 40 Date: May 16, 2024 Dear Reader, This 40th issue of the 3rd Thursday Newsletter <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/blog> has brought us to the end of our submission period, with the final selection process underway, and our editorial panel working hard to review and score the last poems we received. As mentioned in earlier newsletters, when we first closed submissions, at the end of January, we fell short of truly representing the diversity of Tacoma. Wanting to correct course, we reopened submissions (through May) with a focus on BIPOC poets and poets from neighborhoods which weren’t represented in the first round. We now have seventy poets who have contributed their work and, although we didn’t get submissions from all areas of Tacoma, we added one of the missing zip codes (South Tacoma) We also have more diversity of poets, with BIPOCs representing 23% overall, compared to 15% at the end of our January submission period. ------------------------------ In addition to working on scoring the final submissions and beginning the editorial process, we are also gearing up for a busy summer of community outreach! Come join us at one of these events: 2024 Historic Preservation Awards May 23rd, 6:00pm - 7:45pm, at Blue Mouse Theater. Hosted by Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission <https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=56093>. Poets from the anthology with historical themed work will be reading. 2024 Tacoma Pride Festival July 13th, 12:00pm to 6:00pm, Downtown Tacoma. A program of the Rainbow Center <https://www.rainbowcntr.org/>. Join us at the Poet’s Corner. 3rd Annual Tacoma Porchfest July 20th, 1:00pm to 6:00pm, Sixth Avenue. Organized by Tacoma Porchfest <https://tacomaporchfest.org/>. Come join us for Poets on the Porch! Poets will read the poems they submitted for the anthology, and more. 9th Annual Hilltop Street Fair August 24th - 11:00am to 7:00pm, Hilltop. Hosted by the Hilltop Business Association <https://www.hilltopba.org/>. Come visit our Poet’s Corner table. Pantages Windows - Artscapes September (TBD) Pantages Theater. Made possible by Spaceworks <https://www.spaceworkstacoma.com/>. On display in the windows at the Pantages Theater from September through November. Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets Launch Event October 12th, 11:00am to 5:00pm Location(s) to be determined. Hosted by the Tacoma Public Library <https://www.tacomalibrary.org/> and Tacoma Arts & Vitality Division <https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/community_and_economic_development/arts___cultural_vitality_division>. Join us as we LAUNCH Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets! Voices of Tacoma @ Arts at the Armory December 7th & 8th, Tacoma Armory Building. Hosted by the Tacoma Arts & Vitality Division <https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/community_and_economic_development/arts___cultural_vitality_division>. A continuation of our LAUNCH, we’ll have a Poets Corner and readings by the poets. ------------------------------ Also, a shout out to my favorite literary organization in the entire world, Creative Colloquy <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/> . I am excited to be reading at the next Creative Colloquy Open Mic and Literary Reading <https://www.creativecolloquy.com/all-events/creative-colloquy-literary-gatherings-on-zoom-5nwy4-ektne-nyc7b-4eaam-jzfk2-ztz2b-a8m5l-tsxxy-p34f9-4syd8-fstln-7bnlr-cbd9h-w7ywb-hwz2n-jbamj-en5fc-4hdap-matyh-n5873-8rlle-5rx6y> @ The New Frontier Lounge <https://thenewfrontierlounge.com/> on Monday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. Come out to hear the readers and sign up to join the open mic! ------------------------------ For questions or media inquiries about the project, please contact agatheringofpoets@gmail.com. This project is partly funded by the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. ------------------------------ Please share this newsletter. If you received it from a friend, visit Be! Eugene Be! Creative <http://beeugenebecreative.com> to learn more. <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/home> Copyright© 2024 by Burl E. Battersby All Rights Reserved Burl E. Battersby (he/him) *Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets* A *Tacoma Arts Initiative Program *Project Be! Eugene Be! Creative <http://beeugenebecreative.com> (206) 406-8838 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068838> <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068838> <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068838>