Witness Writers

09/03/2024

Artist Spotlight

On March 16, these wonderful people are among the artists you will find at Writers in Action: The Event! Join us between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls

Wendy Brown-Baez is the creator of Writing Circles for Healing. She has facilitated writing workshops in community spaces for more than 20 years, including shelters, libraries, healing and spiritual centers, arts organizations, and state prisons. She is a graduate of the Healing Trauma Program led by Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein. Wendy has published prose and poetry in numerous literary journals and is the author of Heart of the Page: A Portable Writing Workshop and co-author of Writing to Wholeness: workshops to transform lives and communities.

Sean Tsai was born in Taiwan, and moved to the United States when he was 2 years old. He has studied at ArtCenter College of Design. His work in product design and illustration aims to tell stories of how people are valued in their own unique ways. Under Taiwan Online Library and Connexions International(cxiumn.org), he has helped organize and community lead events.
Instagram: .light.sheep

08/03/2024

Artist Spotlight

On March 16, these wonderful people are among the artists you will find at Writers in Action: The Event! Join us between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls

Crown Shepherd is a published author, a marketing manager at Wise Ink Creative Publishing, owner and bookseller at Liberate Your BookShelf, and a reading advocate. Shepherd has dedicated her life to closing the illiteracy rate within the Black community. Shepherd believed if you can read, you can learn; if you can learn, you can grow, and if you can grow, you can be anything!

Joshua Davies is a poet by calling. His volume Writing By Firefly will be published later this year. His session will also draw from his background as a teacher and practitioner of qigong and healing arts modalities, and in professional ritual theatre, dance and performance arts.

07/03/2024

07/03/2024

Artist Spotlight

On March 16, these wonderful people are among the artists you will find at Writers in Action: The Event! Join us between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls

Manling Chen was born and grew up in Taiwan. She came to New York City at age 30 to study in Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently a MN-based freelance reporter for the headquartered-in-New York, national Chinese newspaper, World Journal. Besides work, she also organizes art events and summer camps for cultivating global citizens with the non-profit organization, Taiwan Online Library (tolib.org/summercamp).

Robin Getsug is a mixed media artist/ Art Therapist. Her art often includes image and word, using color, texture, shape, line, symbol, image and the written word. She guides you through the process, using visual arts as a healing expression. You don't need to consider yourself an artist Using an Art Therapy lens, everyone is an artist, it's about self expression and a process, verses product emphasis.

06/03/2024

Artist Spotlight

On March 16, these wonderful people are among the artists you will find at Writers in Action: The Event! Join us between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls. For more info email us at [email protected]

Elena Anderson Eggert has 10 years of experience in the movement to end gender-based violence, working with survivors in hospital outreach, crisis lines, and support groups, as well as organizing survivors for change. She has led writing workshops in the Ramsey County correctional facilities and Shakopee Women's Prison. Elena is the program and training specialist at Praxis International.
Her book, In Memory, won the national award from the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Elena is co-author of Writing to Wholeness: workshops to transform lives and communities.

Nicole Fernandez, equipped with a BS in Communication Studies, MC in Youth Development, MA in Leadership Innovations Ministry (LIM), and a CHW certificate, currently serves as a Project Manager dedicated to reducing maternal and infant health disparities. With a focus on access and equity in education, youth development, and community engagement, Nicole has led initiatives promoting cultural awareness and addressing opportunity gaps in marginalized communities. Her multifaceted roles as a Facilitator, Project Manager, and Family & Community Engagement Strategist reflect her commitment to fostering inclusivity and social equity.

04/03/2024

Artist Spotlight!
On March 16, these wonderful people are among the artists you will find at Writers in Action: The Event! Join us between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls. For more info, email us at [email protected]

Dralandra Larkins is an award-winning spoken word poet and teaching artist. She has performed her spoken word poetry for the NAACP, Button Poetry and at the MN State Capitol. She is the co-editor of Cracked Walnut’s anthology Rewilding Hope, and a MN State Arts Board grant recipient. She is a Program Assistant for the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library where she coordinates author readings for Club Book, Moving Words, and Fireside Reading series. To connect with Dralandra and listen to her spoken word visit www.dralandrawrites.com.

Born in Shanghai, China, Suki Sun is a recovery-out-loud poet from the League of Minnesota Poets and a violinist based in Eagan, St Paul. She teaches meditation in Recovery Cafe Frogtown, a healing community for those impacted by addiction. She started to write poems in English, her second language during the Covid pandemic when she finally quit drinking. In April 2023, as the volunteer poet for the Tupelo Press 30*30 project, she wrote 30 poems in 30 days. Her violin journey began when she was 6 years old, now she plays in the East Metro Symphony Orchestra, Lindin Hill Chamber Orchestra, and Northwood Ensemble, a new tango music group that will debut at the Parkway Theatre in the Minnesota Tango Festival in May 2024.

29/11/2023

Call for Literary Artists

The Witness Project

On March 15-16, 2024, The Witness Project, a program of Northside-based workshops and writing initiatives, with support from the University of Minnesota Research Outreach and Engagement Center (UROC), will host “Writers in Action,” a community event to provide metro area residents with exposure to and information about a broad range of literary arts applications. This event will bring together in one place experts in literary arts who do something more than, or other than, publish their writing. It will include informational tables, mini-workshops, performances, and presentations designed to showcase literary artists in their many different roles. Such roles may include: Teachers; Dramatists; Editors; Historians; Social Critics; Book Artists; Culture Bearers; Public Artists; Curators; Healers; Storytellers; Journalists; Social Media Creatives; and more. We are seeking proposals from artists who are interested in offering short workshops, performances, demonstrations, or other activities related to a specific literary artist role. Most activities are expected to be about an hour in length, but an activity can be repeated. Artists will be compensated for on-site time at the rate of $50.00 per hour. Some history of community-engagement strongly preferred. Additional details and application guidelines can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] using the Subject Matter Line Writers in Action. Proposals are due no later than midnight on Friday, December 22, 2023.

21/05/2023

June 3 will be a special Witness Writers event. We're celebrating a return to in-person gatherings with a potluck. Bring a poem or two, or a flash prose, and a little something to eat for sharing -- or just bring yourself -- and we'll throw in beverages and maybe a few writing prompts. An informal gathering to reunite with writing friends or make some new ones.

20/03/2023

Workshops coming up!

April 1: In person, at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave, Mpls, 9:00 AM to noon. Do you haiku? Bloom with a pantoum? Dare to duplex? Have no clue about poetic forms but want to learn? Maybe create a form of your own? Join Lori Young-Williams and Denise Alden as they guide us through a joyful romp with poetic forms.

April 15: On Zoom, 9:30 to 11:00 AM. Registration required.
Email us at [email protected]
April 15 will feature prompts on two themes: ocean animals and titration (look it up!). (Future zoom workshops will be scheduled on the 3rd Saturday of the month, from 9:30 to 11:00.)

May 6: In person, at UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave, Mpls, 9:30 AM to noon. A Witness Smorgasbord of food, poetry, prose, performance, and ideas. We are celebrating the return of in-person gatherings with an informal community sharing experience. Reacquaint yourself with the Witness writers community in a relaxed atmosphere with hosts Lori Young-Williams and Sharon Kelly.

Attendees are asked to bring a little something snack-like or breakfast-y to share, some work of their own to share, or a short work by a favorite poet/writer to read aloud.

30/01/2023

Witness is happy to be back live and in person at UROC on Saturday, February 4. Find us at 2001 Plymouth Ave North, Mpls

Our hands-on workshop with Hawona Sullivan Janzen facilitating begins at 10:00 AM and will go until noon. The theme is Eco-Poetics. We'll have a few healthy breakfast snacks, juice, and tea. (We recommend you bring your own coffee- not always available.)

rsvp appreciated, but not required.
[email protected]