Friday, December 12, 2008

Writing Lessons: A Poetry Workshop

Our lives have been a series of discoveries, joys, trials and tribulations—experiences that have influenced who we are and the way we see the world. The themes in A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines will serve as prompts to encourage participants to write poems that reflect on the lessons they have learned throughout their lives. The workshop will be a space for participants to learn elements of craft, honor their stories, and hopefully be surprised by what even our poems can teach us.
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this workshop, please contact The Big Read team at thebigreadoakland@gmail.com or Arisa White at: thebigreadoaklandworkshop@gmail.com.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Arisa White leads Oaklanders in free creative writing workshop!

The Big Read is fast approaching!

Beginning February 21st, the city of Oakland will celebrate Ernest Gaines' novel, A Lesson Before Dying, with a month of programming including: book clubs, theater, cooking demonstrations, poetry nights, pub clubs, art shows, panel discussions, film screenings, and more! California State University East Bay and the Oakland Public Library system, with funding from the National Endowment of the Arts and the help of Arts Midwest, invite the entire community to come together for the Big Read, read and have a blast. Whether you are an avid reader or nonreader, now is the time to join as a community, family, workplace, faculty, church, community service club, carpool, etc., to create a new kind of conversation. This is a fresh take on the dusty, old fashion book club and we promise it will be a whole bunch of fun!

This year, more than ever, we have seen the positive change that community organizing, hard work, and hope can create. We hope that with the help of volunteers, artists, you!, readers, nonreaders, poets, actors, mothers, hard workers, proud Oaklanders, historians, community organizers, and others, that we will be able to make this program a marvelous success!

February 21st is not only our kick-off event, but also the start of our fabulous Big Read workshop, Writing Lessons: A Poetry Workshop with incredible poet and Big Read friend, Arisa White. This workshop will be held every Saturday during programming, but if the class fills-up too quickly or you are unable to attend on the weekends, follow along in lessons, progress, and more right here! Go ahead and bookmark us now!

For more information, please feel free to contact the Big Read team at: thebigreadoakland@gmail.com or visit us at: Myspace.com/thebigreadoakland.

All the best!!