2023 Power of Words Celebration Schedule

Conference at a Glance

November 11 | Online All Day

Conference is listed in U.S. time zones, but we very much welcome people from around the world. Please click here for a time zone translator.

7-8 a.m. ET/ 6-7 a.m. CT/ 5-6 a.m. MT/ 4-5 a.m. PT– Early Birds or Night Owls Reading (especially for international attendees)

11a.m. - 12 p.m. ET/ 10-11 a.m. CT/ 9-10 a.m. MT/ 8-9 a.m. PT -– Welcome and Talking Circles: Welcome and breakout rooms for talking circles for people to get to know each other. 

12:30-1:30 p.m. ET/ 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT/ 10:30-11:30 MT/ 9:30-10:30 PT -- Choose from 4 concurrent workshops

1. Designing Transformative Multidisciplinary Projects with Collaboration at the Core – Akwi Nji

2. Writing the Extraordinary Details of our Ordinary Lives – Jen Harris 

3. Mindful Writing: Gratitude, the other side of Grief  – Marianela Medrano
   

4. Flash Fiction: Exploring the Senses,  Emotional Resonance and the Path to Healing – Riham Adley

2-3 p.m. ET/ 1-2 p.m. CT/ 12-1 p.m. MT/ 11 a.m.-12 p.m. PT – TLA in the World: Transforming Communities Through the Power of Words: Panel Discussion

• Sydney Fowler, writer, authenticity reader, Faculty and Community Engagement Coordinator at Lighthouse Writers Workshop

• David Kopacz, physician, author, artist

• Vanita Leatherwood, poet/artist and social change educator, director of Community Engagement at HopeWorks 

• Alec Esperanza, Executive Director of Ozo CommUNITY PLUS, educator and activist

• Fiona Bolger, writer, mentor, and international facilitator

• Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Moderator, founder of TLA

3:30-4:30 ET/ 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT/ 1:30-2:30 p.m. MT/ 12:30-1:30 p.m. PT – Choose from 3 concurrent workshops:

1. What Is It You Need to Say?: Time, Space, and Tools to Write Your Truth --  Fiona Bolger

2. Writing Into the Contradictions: Juxtaposing Images for Deeper Understanding – Ben Weakley

3. From Memoir to Monologue – Kelly DuMar

3:45-4:45 ET/ 2:45-3:45 CT/ 1:45-2:45 MT/ 12:45-1:45 PT -- Choose from 3 concurrent workshops:

1. Using TLA to Create & Deepen Your Family Archive– Amanda Lacson

2. The Big Picture of Your TLA Livelihood and Life – Kathryn Lorenzen & Caryn Mirriam-Goldber

3. My Body is Not a Battlefield: Illness, Body, and the Use of Metaphor -- Angie Ebba

6-7 p.m. ET/ 5-6 p.m. CT/ 4-5 p.m. MT/ 3-4 p.m. PT – Coffeehouse of Wonder Open Mics: Share your writing, music, spoken word, drama, or other forms of word arts. You'll be able to sign up for a slot, and because we'll have several break-out rooms, all conference attendees are welcome.

8:30-10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30-9:30 CT/ 6:30-7:30 p.m. MT/ 5:30-6:30p.m. PT – Keynote Performances and Closing: A Celebration of Poetry, the Spoken Word, Music & Storytelling

• Kevin Willmott, Oscar-winning filmmaker and writer (for KKKlansman) on filmmaking the power of the stories we tell.
• Ada Cheng, storyteller and change-maker
• Glenn North, poet, spoken word artist, activist
• Joy Zimmerman and Erin McGrane, music and the spoken word
• Akwi Nji, spoken word poet, artist, and musician
• David Romtvedt, poet laureate emeritus of Wyoming and accordionist/singer

• Closing ceremony

1 a.m. ET/ 12 a.m. CT/ 11 p.m. MT/ 10 p.m. PT – Night Owls or Early Birds Reading (especially for international attendees)

Bonus Performances & Extras

Wait, there's more! You also receive:

• Bonus recordings of amazing performers and writers speaking, singing, or reading just for you (each recording will be 10-15 minutes): 

• A bundle of recordings from the conference, including Open Mics, Keynote Performances, Panel Discussion, and more.

• A library of handouts from conference workshops.

• A $20 coupon toward a TLAN class you enroll in before May 31st, 2024.

Register for the Conference

Session Descriptions

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