The next embbodi mapping retreat:

Thurs., October 6th – Sun., October 9th @ the Musea Center for International Creativity, Sonoma, CA

https://writethissec.com/embbodi-mapping-retreats/ give us a rare opportunity to (e)xplore our experiences, (m)ove on our own behalf, (b)reathe and (b)elieve that by (o)pening our hearts, we can (d)ecide to reclaim our own narratives and (i)nspire people around us to do the same. Together we’ll create life-size canvases of our bodies, combined with movement and writing that all invite us to map our way to freedom. Thursday evening, October 6th – Sunday afternoon, October 9th, at the Musea Center for International Creativity in Sonoma, CA.

Let Her Tell It: Black Women Writing on the Body and Mind

Saturday, May 7 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

In-Person Only

Brower Center – Tamalpais Room

2022
Poetry
Race/Identity
Women/Gender

Kira Lynne Allen, Jenee Darden, Natalie Devora, Kelechi Ubozoh, adrienne danyelle oliver

Many Black women have a complex relationship with their bodies. Historically their bodies have been racialized, hypersexualized, exoticized, abused, exploited for labor and othered. Stressors in their lives effects both their physical and mental health. But Black women also nurture their bodies, celebrate their bodies, and give themselves permission to enjoy pleasure. These Black women writers will share poetry and stories about their bodies, while showing how physical health affects mental health and vice versa. Whether it’s fighting fibroids or reclaiming their bodies after harm—these writers are telling their stories to disrupt what they’ve been mistaught about their bodies. This panel is inspired by embbodi mapping retreat the writers attended where they created body maps: life-size canvases of their bodies that artistically express their perceptions of and experiences with their bodies.

KALW

Here’s part one & two of my interview that aired no April 28, 2022 on KALW with the incomparable, Jenee Darden! Listen, share and check out the links!

Part one: https://www.kalw.org/show/sights-sounds/2022-04-28/sights-and-sounds-kira-allen

Part two: https://www.kalw.org/arts-culture/2022-04-28/how-oakland-poet-kira-allens-art-workshop-helps-people-free-their-minds-and-bodies