Images from the 2008 Power of Words Conference

Photos from top left, clockwise: Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg and Kelley Hunt; Heather Mandell and Kathleen Connolly; Marienala Medrano-Marra; Julia Alvarez, Marianela Medrano-Marra and Adele Nieves; Reggie Marra; India Rassner-Donovan and Sherry Reiter. Thanks to Kelley Hunt and Marianela Medrano-Marra for photos.

Rick Jarow to Present at Conference

Rick Jarow, the author of the highly acclaimed Creating the Work You Love, will also be a presenter at the Power of Words conference. More than ever before people are looking for non-traditional careers and work environments. From job sharing and telecommuting to fruit bouquets and blogging we're seeing the traditional 9 to 5 jobs becoming marginalized. The time is right to "find your bliss." Jarow will help bring you one step closer!

I have to say that this lineup is pretty impressive for the money. It's not too late to sign up. It's a great location (gorgeous Vermont in the fall), great people and a great educational opportunity.

Bread and Puppet to perform at Conference

Not only will you attend fantastic workshops at the Power of Words conference but you'll also be entertained by one of the best radical theatre companies ever. Yes, Bread and Puppet will be there to delight attendees. Bread and Puppet was launched as a response to the increasingly capitalist force that has changed the artistic world. The theatre strives to bring art back to its original purpose - the pure creation of art. Art is as necessary to the human experience as food. The theatre is also known for its impactful social commentary. It's sure to be an eye-opening and wildly entertaining performance.

Kelley Hunt to Perform at Power of Words

Artist Kelley Hunt will perform at the Power of Words Conference this September. She is a renowned recording audience, film scorer, teacher, songwriter, and workshop facilitator. Her work is insightful, prolific and soulful.

Hunt will be available during the conference for individual consultation with conference attendees.

There's still time to register for the conference, so don't miss out!

Walter Mosley at Power of Words Conference

Walter Mosley, the highly acclaimed author of over 2 dozen books, will be one of the keynote speakers at The Power of Words Conference, September 12, 2008 through September 15, 2008, at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt.

Mosley burst into the American consciousness in 1990 with his book, Devil in a Blue Dress. His works of fiction and non-fiction have earned him numerous awards including the O'Henry Award and the Anisfield Wolf Award for increasing the understanding of race in America.

Mosley will be one of several notable guests at the conference. I'll highlight each in the days ahead. Of all the conferences that writers have to choose from, this is sure to be the one you'll take away a lot of value and incite from. Register now.

Memorial Day

Although the study of Transformative Language Arts is still emerging and defining itself, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances have been writing down their stories in order to find peace for hundreds of years. As a result, we have hundreds of first hand accounts of circumstances like surviving abuse to survival at sea.

In the coming years we will continue to find examples of this. Recently, I watched an episode of 60 Minutes. One of the stories highlighted veterans recently home from Iraq and the issue of post traumatic stress disorder. Apparently the armed forces are better at training how to kill than with training citizens how to make the transition back to civilian life. One man, Jesse Odom, said he dealt with what he saw and what he did by locking himself in his room with a six pack and writing into the wee hours of the morning. As a result of those writing sessions, those "purification rituals," his book Through Our Eyes is being published this Memorial Day weekend. It is being heralded as a raw account of what our troops go through on a daily basis in Iraq and is sure to become a record of the experiences of a generation.

The Power of Words conference: Liberation through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word

Sept. 12-15, 2008, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT.

Seek greater freedom and transformation for yourself and your community through the power of words at this unique gathering of people who write, tell stories, perform, and do other language arts. Make community with others in the emerging field of Transformative Language Arts, and discover ways to make a living doing what you love.

Keynoters:
* Walter Mosley, author of 29 books, including The Year You Write Your Novel;
* Bread and Puppet Theatre Company;
* Kelley Hunt, international rhythm and blues singer-songwriter;
* Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love;
* Sherry Reiter, poetry therapy pioneer; the Afrikana Madonna performing spoken word soul; and
*Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine and native American physician and shaman.

Over 25 presentations by writers, storytellers, performers, community leaders, medical professionals, songwriters, healers, and social change artists include Janet Aalfs, Callid and Kristina Keefe-Perry, Elizabeth “Beth” Hin, Marianela Medrano-Marra, Reggie Marra, and Evelyn Torton Beck, and Kelley Hunt & Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg leading a full-day pre-conference workshop on making a living through the arts. Organized by Goddard College’s Transformative Language Arts concentration, this conference features hands-on workshops, performances, open readings & celebrations at the peak of fall foliage. Conference costs start at $210 for registration plus additional fees for pre- and post-conference workshops. Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $216/double or $276/single. Some partial scholarships available including scholarships through the Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color. Work-study positions available. Professional and poetry therapy hours available. Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords or call Denise at Denise.Whitesides-Skeeba@goddard.edu, 802/454-8311, x204.

NOTE: Early bird registration until June 1st!
Special Pre-Conference Amherst Writers & Artists Training: AWA is pleased to offer its four-day Writing Group Leadership Training, an intensive in the AWA writing group method and its application to writers of all levels and from diverse backgrounds, at before the conference Sept. 8-12, 2008 at the college, and for a reduced rate (please see http://www.amherstwriters.com/ for further information, and to register.


Transformative Language Arts, part of Goddard College’s individualized MA program (www.goddard.edu/masterarts_individualized), is a 48-hour MA degree in social and personal transformation through the spoken and written word. Goddard College, a pioneer in progressive education, encourages its students to become creative, passionate, lifelong learners, working and living with an earnest concern for others and for the welfare of the Earth. http://www.goddard.edu/

"Doctor Heal Thyself"

Along with the reminders for doctor appointments, meetings, and family events I've begun placing special stickers on my family calendar. These stickers are reminders to spend some time taking care of myself. It could be as simple as sitting quietly with a cup of tea, reading a book I really love, or, if my life has been particularly harried, sitting down with my journal.

Keeping a journal can help you identify the patterns in your life and your business. It can heal old wounds and help you find your way through rough times. Most importantly, it can help you know yourself. In knowing yourself you are in the best position possible to serve others.

In her book, Journal to the Self, Kathleen Adams introduces several journal keeping techniques to help writers get the most from their efforts. I have found the method that works best for me and I invite any of you who keep a journal to write in about what works best for you.

Additionally, Kathleen will be hosting a free teleclass May 8, 2008 on memoir writing http://www.namw.org/. If you're interested in writing about yourself or your family, check it out!

How May I Direct Your Call? -- by Debbie Harris

How may I direct your call?

Direct me to someone
who will listen
with silent attentiveness.

Direct me to someone
who will treat me
with dignity and respect,
to someone
for whom I’m not
just a trifling detail
of the day.

Direct me to a power,
a source,
a spirit,
a way of knowing
that deepens my understanding
of myself
and the universe.

Direct me to knowledge
that allows me
to improve myself
and the world.

Direct me to peace
to peace
to peace.

Direct me to contentment
with all that is good
and patience
with that which must change.
Direct me; I’m calling.

Please, direct me.

Debbie Harris is a graduate of Goddard's  Transformative Language Arts Master's program. She is an adjunct English  instructor at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, California. Her focus is on  English language development for underserved populations.