- Item
Michael Haeflinger is a poet and artist from the Midwest. He lives in Tacoma.
Michael Haeflinger is a poet and artist from the Midwest. He lives in Tacoma.
Dale King is a lifetime railroader with over forty years' experience in the industry. He is currently the Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer of municipally-owned Tacoma Rail. His latest venture is the production of a poetry festival as part of Tacoma Arts Month in October 2015
Ann MacKenzie is a teacher in Kent, Washington. She works at a school where over 38 languages are spoken. Some of her poetry focuses on experiences with these students.
Joy Misako St. Germain has been writing poetry and acting in the theatre since she was a young girl. Joy works as the Human Resources Director for the City of Tacoma.
Vicky M. Semones is an award-winning poet and photographer with a lifelong interest in spiritual and philosophical subjects. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. She was an acolyte at the Mary Magdalene Chapel in Oakland, California, and has brought her teaching skills and love of gnostic spirituality to the Center for Spiritual Living - Tacoma, having developed a 'Wisdom Circle' series on "Re-discovering Mary Magdalene." Vicky also posts her poetry at www.authorsden.com/semones
Shari Shelton is a writer and has edited and published anthology's for writers who examine Christian spirituality in contemporary life.
Lucas is the 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate and launched "The Laureate Listening Project."
Dwayne is a regular participant in Tacoma Public Library's StoryLab, creating original beats and raps. When he heard about the listening project the day of the event, he created an original piece within two hours and recorded that same day.
Summer at Peace Youth Leadership Class
The Summer at Peace Youth Leadership Class decided to take on the issue around stereotyping in their schools. This team poem represents their response to the stereotyping that they have experienced in high school and reclaiming of their identity on their own terms. Since they come from high schools throughout Tacoma, we have identified the place where they gave voice to their identities: at Peace Community Center in Tacoma's Hilltop Neighborhood.
TDH is a member of 2012 and has spent most of his career giving a voice to justice through hip hop. He often uses elements of his own story to inspire others.
Josh Rizeberg is a spoken-word poet, M.C., father, and a member of Hilltop Build And Destroy.
Trevor is from the Pacific Northwest but studied and worked abroad before returning in 2005. Trevor is educated as a scientist and technologist.
Jeremy Silas is a multidisciplinary artist. He is a painter, musician/composer, writer, and spoken word performer.
Rev. Abigail Vizcarra Perez worked as a credentialed educator for private and public schools in California until moving to Washington when she learned at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. In 2011 she completed her thesis entitled The Poetics of Children's Ministry. For 13 years she has served children and families in non-profits across the country. In 2016 she became the first person of Latinx descent to be ordained by the United Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest. She currently lives in Tacoma with her partner, Nathan.
Connie Walle is the president of Puget Sound Poetry Connection, now celebrating 25 years in business.
Kellie is a lifelong educator and activist for access and equity. She embraces poetry and spoken word.
Lucas Smiraldo, the 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate, developed and wrote this piece for City Club in response to a presentation by the chief engineers of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The work subsequently was integrated into a spoken word drama of seventeen movements titled "Voice of the Americas". Composer Wrick Wolff created a soundscape behind each piece for the final cd and live theater performance.
Darcy Nelson has claimed Tacoma as home for the past four years and works in the non-profit sector.
Carl "Papa" Palmer, retired Army, retired FAA, lives in University Place, WA. He is a Pushcart Prize and Micro Award nominee with a contest winning poem riding buses somewhere in Seattle. MOTTO: Long Weekends Forever.
Lucas is the 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate and launched "The Laureate Listening Project."