TLA Network Virtual Salon

TLA Network Virtual Salon

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Join Us!

5:00–6:30 pm ET (UTC-5)

4:00–5:30 pm CT // 3:00–4:30 pm MT // 2:00–3:30 pm PT // 10:00-11:30 pm UTC

Click here to find your timezone.

Our Virtual Salons feature TLAN members who all use the written, spoken, or sung word for personal and community transformation. TLAN members have incredibly generous spirits, and we are excited to provide a venue to feature their artistic work.

The Transformative Language Arts Network (TLAN) virtual salons feature presenters who are active members of TLAN. Each presenter will have 5-7 minutes to present their written, spoken, or sung work followed by a brief period of audience response. 

Registration is FREE and open to anyone, not just members of TLAN and will take place online via Zoom. 

After the reading, there will be an artist talkback and time for questions and engagement from the audience. 

You must register if you would like to attend: a Zoom link will be sent to all registrants the day before the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

The salons are free to attend and donations to TLAN are very welcome to allow us to continue to sponsor events like this.

Our December Presenters!

Alec Esparza: Alec is an altarista/storyteller with 35 years working in collaboration with families, schools, community partners and Department of Corrections throughout California. He utilizes the folk art of storytelling, ofrendas (altar making), creative writing, experiential critical thinking activities and adventure learning. Alec’s approach embraces creating sacred space for community building, social transformation, and healing. Participants engage in the process of becoming more responsive and responsible members of the community. His goal is to deepen and broaden personal life skills to face life’s challenges in the world we touch and to walk in beauty with greater strength, understanding and wisdom. Learn more at OZOCommunity.com.

Barbara Baker: Barbara Baker has always found writing to be an internal soulmate that has provided a pathway to her heart and soul by exploring personal truths and anthems for recovering and healing from traumas. Her purpose is to guide others and herself to find their voices to be heard and spaces to be seen. Barbara is currently a graduate student in the Drama Therapy Program at Kansas State University and a member of the Transformative Language Arts Network. 

Nicole C. Livengood: Nicole C. Livengood is creative writer, independent scholar, and recovering academic who lives, hikes, and drinks coffee in Southeast Ohio. She really does not like writing biographies about herself, but loves hearing about others' lives. She's just completed ghostwriting a memoir, and her NEH-funded Digital Humanities project, "Beyond Seduction and Abortion: The Life and 'Memoir' of Zulma Marache," is forthcoming . You can find her work at Fish Barrel review and follow her at nicoleclivengood.substack.com.

Tasjha Dixon: Tasjha is a single mom, social worker, army veteran, yoga teacher, poet, writer, orator, Buddhist teacher and guide, amongst others.  She just graduated in August with her Master’s of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Buddhist-inspired Naropa University and earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in sociology with a minor in Women and Gender studies in 2006 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Tasjha has dedicated her life to service.  She has taken Bodhisattva vows, making the life-long commitment to work for the benefit of all beings and share compassion everywhere she goes.  Learn more at: empoweringkcwithtasjha.com

Tracie Nichols: Tracie Nichols is a Transformative Language Artist writing poetry and facilitating writing adventures for shy but curious people from her tiny desk under the wide reach of two old Sycamore trees. She finds that writing poetry is often an unwieldy collision of alligator wrestling and cat herding held together by occasional chocolate-infused bliss and still does it anyway. Tracie is honored her poetry has appeared in Rogue Agent, Text Power Telling, kerning: a space for words, The Weight of Motherhood Anthology, and the “Resistance and Resilience” exhibit at Eclipse Center for Creative Community. Find Tracie at tracienichols.com or her Substack.