Poets in Resistance Again program
This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art. —Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winning American novelist.
Patrick Murfin is a poet, writer, blogger, amateur historian and lifelong social justice activist who organized the original Poets in Resistance program in 2017.
Jan Boseman lives and writes in Woodstock. Poetry chose her to play on its team many years ago when she fell in love with The Prisoner of Chillon. She has been honing her skills ever since. Some call her a protest poet.
Alan Sheer is a retired professor of philosophy, religion, ethics and history. Prior to his teaching career Alan was a congressional press secretary and pastor of several churches where he worked in a variety of social justice ministries.
Tricia Alexander is an award-winning performing and healing artist, a performance poet, songwriter, and musician. She said, “Writing has helped me understand and process this multi-dimensional experience of living. I can’t imagine my life without the beauty and the depth that writing has not only brought TO me—but also what it has encouraged me to rise up and out of me.”
Sam Miller is a Crystal Lake Resident and an art student at McHenry County College.
Kenneth Balmes was born in Waukegan and lives in Island Lake. He started writing poetry at age 65, inspired by persons, places and events in my life, especially those closest to him. Believes in trying to make this world a better place and to express and share beauty and love.
Julie Ann Monroe is a writer of poetry, music, memoirs, essays and books, she is active in her world of photography as well. She spends her time writing, playing guitar, hiking, hanging out with her horse. She lives in Woodstock works in Harvard and plays anywhere she can!
Edward Philip Denofrio was the former and inaugural Poet-in-Residence at Raue Center of the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL. Since his time there, he spent his time organizing poetry-readings in McHenry and Lake County; writing and reading about the natural world and joy in the face of the never ceasing advancement of evil.
Julie Huddle grew up in McHenry County, returning after living in a variety of places including Nepal, as a Peace Corps volunteer and Colorado. She finds her inspiration primarily in nature, her dog Clarice, and her community.
Joe Calvillo is a local McHenry County writer, poet, and founder of the poetry group Paladins of Poetry. He has been an active poet in the area with many associations including Sanctuary Poets, Atrocious Poets and hosted a monthly poetry night in Crystal Lake. Joe's poetry publication is Azule-A Collections of Poems and has maintained a writer's Blogspot on Google since 2010.
James Hamilton is from Wisconsin and is a seasoned spoken word performance artist, and motivational speaker. He is a member of Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and P.O.E.T (People Of Extraordinary Talent). James has made a significant impact on the literary scene in Wisconsin.
Jessica Kemery is a Crystal Lake author who writes fantasy and secretly loves poetry.
Luke Welch lives in Northern Illinois where he works as a sign language interpreter. He has published poems in various small press magazines.
Christopher D. Sims has been writing and reciting Resistance Poetry for better than twenty years now. A nationally known artist, activist, and truth-teller, his words seek to empower, impact, or inform. Christopher is known as The People’s Poet in his hometown Rockford, IL.
The Social Justice Team of Tree of Life UU Congregation would like to thank everyone who made the evening special and possible—our poets, Paladins of Poetry and the McHenry County poetry community; the staff of Tree of Life especially Congregation Administer Judy Stettner; our tech crew Ryan Broussard and Julie Huddle; our volunteers; and Lisa Messinger for sponsoring the bar; our beneficiaries and front line organizations Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), McHenry County Citizens for Choice (MCCC), McHenry County NOW, and Woodstock Pride. A shout out to everyone who helped promote the event on social media and elsewhere.
We hope you have been inspired and motivated to dare to personally step up and actively join in the Resistance to oppression.
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