An Evening of Amnesty at the Sacramento Poetry Center

Time: Monday, August 29 · 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Location: Sacramento Poetry Center
1719 25th St.
Sacramento, CA

Poets and activists delight you with a poetry reading benefitting Amnesty International. There is an encouraging source of social justice in written and spoken word. This very special evening features: Al Rojas, Emmanuel Sigauke, Brian Ang, Catherine Fraga, and Michael Gorman. Free. Refreshments.

Biographies

AL ROJAS worked intimately with Cesar Chavez to improve working conditions for farmworkers, and has, for decades, remained a...t the forefront of advocacy for latinos and workers. The activist is a CSUS alumnus and founded UFW, one of the most influential labor unions in California. Rojas began as a farmworker himself, organizing labor from 1961 to 1979. He became SEIU Local 1000 labor leader -- and then, California State Deputy Labor Commissioner. He is currently vice-president of the Sacramento Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

Many of EMMANUEL SIGAUKE's poems address his experience growing up in the politically and otherwise volatile situation in Africa. Mr. Sigauke is editor and publisher of the online African literary journal, Munyori Literary Review, editor of an African anthology of stories titled "African Roar". The poet is also author of "Forever Let Me Go". A father of two, Sigauke is professor of English and composition at Cosumnes River College. Mr. Sigauke has served on the board of the Sacramento Poetry Center, hosted literary readings, and has conducted a public workshop for poetry.

CATHERINE FRAGA teaches writing at Sacramento State University. Her poetry has been published in numerous literary publications and she is the author of the chapbook, "Running Away with Gary, the Mattress Salesman", from Poet's Corner Press. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. In 2008 she was awarded a month long writer's residency in Portugal.

BRIAN ANG was educated at UC Davis. Mr. Ang is a favorite of the Davis and surrounding area, not only for his poetry, but for having been a radio personality, before moving to his new home in Oakland. Ang's books are: "Communism" (Berkeley Neo-Baroque, 2011), and "Paradise Now" (Grey Book Press, 2011).

MICHAEL GORMAN is referred to as the Poet Laureate of Lavendar Heights. Mr. Gorman won a national Lambda Literary Award for a biography of Jose Sarria called "The Empress Is A Man". His writing covers a range of genres: journalism, lyrics, playwriting, short stories, non-fiction scholarship, and poetry. He holds a BA and an MA from California State University, Sacramento. Gorman is currently working on a biography of Irish poet and Druid, Ella Young, as well as a book of Celtic history and philosophy. Gorman's poems touch the heart.