Issue 5 • March 12, 2018

In This Issue

1. Heck and Joy Poetry Workshop
2. On the Syllabus
3. Hither and Yons
4. Hey Y'all?
5. Hey What?

1. Heck and Joy Poetry Workshop

Heck and Joy Poetry is an online workshop in which participants read and write poetry—just for the heck and joy of it.

This is not an academic class. This is not about publishing. Prior experience with poetry is not required. I believe poetry, like language, belongs to everyone, and this workshop is for anyone and everyone interested in poetry.

How this workshop works:

• For four weeks we’ll read and write together in a private Facebook group.
• Each week a workbook of reading and writing exercises is emailed to each participant. There are follow up discussions on facebook about the workbook exercises.
• There will be two Facebook Live Q & As.  
• Each writer will give and get feedback from the other class participants on their work.
• Each writer will get personalized feedback from Cherri on four poems.
• We will grow a community of good people who want to nurture each other.

Early bird tuition is $75 per person. There is also a twofer deal. Sign up with a friend and get $25 off each enrollment. Click the blue button above for more details.

2. On the Syllabus

• So much to unpack in this interview with the black feminist theorist dominatrix. Well worth the read.
• All of our favorite magazines were/are racist. National Geographic is acknowledging it by analyzing it.
• We could all stand to do more of this.
• Religious trauma syndrome is real. (Thanks Julie.)
  The goal of the Cheyenne River Youth Project is to empower young people on the reservation. It promotes community, teaches skills, and nurtures physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness. I watched this video this other day and was again struck by how removed the daily reality of the majority of Americans is from the daily realities of those who live on some of our poorest and most isolated reservations.
• I got the chills watching the RBG documentary trailer. And, the credits are full of women! #TimesUp

3. Hither and Yons

• Teachers, keep fighting the good fight.
• So you want to start a podcast? Chef Jeff tells you which equipment to buy.
• You’ve heard of the gamer grandma; now watch her play. I love when she says she’s not very good at it. There can be great joy in things we're bad at.
• This seems legit.
• This is largely my method for deciding where and where not to shop.
• Or, every time I see my teaching evaluations.
• I enjoy Weird Al’s Hamilton Polka.

4. Hey y'all?

Hey y’all,

On the blog this week I wrote about how authenticity is an ongoing process of inquiry, not a static state of being.

A person isn’t one day all of a sudden authentic, nor is authenticity something we achieve through accumulated effort. 

There is so much to unpack about authenticity, but the thing I really want you to take away right now is this: to be authentic is an act of resistance.

I also posted a new poem about how depression makes us complicity in its lies.

I am a delight. I promise.

Cherri

5. Hey What?

• I tried a slightly different format this week. Any thoughts? 
• Please forward this newsletter along to a friend who might enjoy it.