Speaking Peace at UA Poetry Center in September

The semester is going to be AMAZING! Owl & Panther is partnering with UA Poetry Center for Speak Peace, Tucson Museum of Art, Kore Press for the Big Read, and Borderlands Theater. Word Journeys is partnering again with O&P — and also United Way learning to be smarter about media and nutrition. I’m jazzed.

Thanks Janni Simner for the invitation to share on your blog, and The University of Arizona’s Poetry Center for inviting me to share how we write collaboratively at O&P.

This fall, I’m excied to be facililtating workshops at the Pima County Public Library for both youth and adults.

I’ll be on a “Healing the Effects of War through Literature” panel at IBBY’s Regional Confernece with Juanita Havill, Lyn Miller-Lachman, Nancy Bo Flood and Jessica L. Powers.

Word Journeys Amphi High School mentors will join me in presenting at the AZLA conference.

Also in November, I’ll be facilitating a workshop at Casa de la Luz “End of Life Conference.”

Hopefully I’ll squeeze some time in to WRITE!

The end of the school year rushes — what an incredible year with both Word Journeys and The Hopi Foundation Owl & Panther!
This Saturday both groups will present at the University of Arizona’s Young at Art. Owl & Panther’s art work is on display at Woods Library. OP will host an opening reception of work they created with the Tucson Museum of Art at the Joel Valdez Main Library on May 3rd (6:30-7:30pm). One of WJ students was a semi-finalist of the Poetry Center’s Corrido Contest. One of WJ six year-old students read their poem on KXCI this week…
Words — the power of Words and ART. Thanks to the Pima County Public Library and The Hopi Foundation for letting me share my passions!

Looking for other books on immigration? Check out Teaching for Change’s website: http://www.teachingforchange.org/publications/lists/immigration#student

Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! Office announced the 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month Recommended Reading List — Journey of Dreams was the only new Middle School book added to the list.

Journey of Dreams won the Libraries Ltd 2009 Judy Goddard Award for young adult literature in December at a luncheon at the Arizona Library Association’s conference. It earned a stared review in Kirkus.

Journey of Dreams is also included in:

*Independent children’s booksellers 2009 “ABC Best Books for Children”

*Kirkus Magazine’s “Best Books of 2009″

* Southwest Books of the Year 2009

*Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2009

*CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choices 2010

*US Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) honor list of international books for 2010; http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6716600.html?industryid=47062

*Chicago Public Library: One Book, One Chicago Further Reading Recommended list posted March 2010

*Americas Award Commended List, June 2010

Lyn Miller-Lachmann, author of Gringolandia, recently reviewed Journey of Dreams in the Times Union, in upstate New York. She recognized the nod to Rev. John Fife of Southside Presbyterian, the first Sanctuary Church as well as author, philosopher and Quaker founder of the Sanctuary Movement Jim Corbett. Other players who I imaged when writing were Marianna Neil (Hermana), Amy Shubitz (Amelia), Bernie Mueller and Ricardo Elford. But there were so many.

During filming of a documentary I heard Tom Ford tell a heart-tugging story about what it felt like for him to reach out and receive a small child passed over the fence who immediately snuggled – trusting this giant of a stranger.

The funny story of Barbara Silver’s arrest in Mexico. When Amy called to speak to her in jail, she was told Barbara wasn’t there. “Where was she?” Amy demanded. “Over at the Cantina, enjoying a cervesa.” So many stories…a few of them funny, but most speak of the heroism of people who put their comfort and security on the line to save the lives of refugees.

So thanks for catching that Lyn! Her book Gringolandia takes on oppression from Chile for high school students. It’s a book adults too will have a hard time putting down.

After all that time alone with Tomasa and her family — it’s been overwhelming to hear people talk and to read about the book: Kirkus’ stared review called Journey of Dreams “outstanding.” School Library Journal used words like “well paced” and “suspenseful.” Booklist: “More than the local color, readers will be held by the escape adventure, and even more by the searing family drama.” Publishers Weekly: “At once lyrical and starkly realistic.” I’m still speechless — and anyone who knows me — knows that’s a feat!

Lisa captured in 2008 in DC when we attended the Coming Up Taller Award

I had my toe in the water–from behind public librarian  Lisa Bunker pushed me in. This website is the splash!

Lisa was my go-to admin person on the Word Journeys project at the Pima County Public Library the years that we were a semi-finalist and a WINNER! for excellence in afterschool programming.