WEALTH OF IDEAS

 Sacramento, CA: Faculty from two Northern California college districts have established a literary initiative that promotes the works of BIPOC writers. Califa Lit Initiative was established in August 2021 with the following mission:  Stimulate students to write their own stories, creative nonfiction, poetry and plays Motivate students to read and discuss the works of established Black and BIPOC authors in environments beyond the formal classroom Create ways for students to publish their work, such as an online journal, and podcasts, and support, mentor and encourage them to submit to other publications. To date, the organization has hosted one literary event in October, which reached more than forty participants who listened to a keynote speaker and participated in a writing workshop and reading session. Following the success of its first event, Califa Lit is going to present its second event on February 25: "Uzima: Writing, Sharing, Healing in the African Diaspora".  T...

On February 14, CRC is hosting a BHM poetry reading featuring VS Chochezi, Terry Moore, and Milton Bowens. I look forward to this event, which takes place just a day after another BHM event at the Sacramento Poetry, in which Terry Moore and VS Chochezi be some of the features. The CRC reading will take place in the Recital Hall from 12:00 to 1:20 PM. V.S. Chochezi has resided in Sacramento for more than 20 years. For most of that time she has shared poetry and spoken word at countless venues including colleges and universities, K-12 educational centers, festivals and poetry features. She has been published in numerous publications including Speak, Write, Dream an anthology of contributions from ZICA members, available on LULU.com. ZICA is a Sacramento based creative arts and literary guild with an eclectic, national membership. Chochezi also has been published in several issues of Drum Voices Revue, a publication from Southern Illinois University, Sierra College's litera...

Featured poets V.S. Chochezi and Rob Anthony It was a night of great performances, like how most Monday nights are at Sacramento Poetry Center. I left the place relaxed and ready to write for the rest of the week. Great audience too (don't you just love people so committed to poetry that they come out on a Monday night and see what we have to offer. Thank you, Sacramento. So now, here are the photos: Lawrence Dinkins (NSAA) opened the session with his signature piece about "getting got". I have heard it so many times that now listening to it is like co-creating. Powerful piece...about..."getting got". Rob Anthony: he recites all his poems, brings them to life on the stage. I liked "I-poet", which reminds poets that what they say dosen't have to be liked: they poet. Both poets kept the audience engaged, each poem followed by applause. Rob and V.S. duo performance. V.S. Chochezi, who calls herself a poet of political consciousness, has performe...

We had a great program. Five poets (all dynamic & electrifying performers) and three open mic poets (dynamic too). The room was packed, with some of our audience members standing the whole time. Not too bad for a rainy and chilly night. The reading started at 7:30 and ended at 9:45. Powerful readings get me too excited and I know I will try to spend the a great chunk of the night using the inspiration. That's why I like hosting readings; they act as fuel for creativity. So now I am here thinking about how great the readings were, trying to replay it all over, thinking, perhaps I should revise the poems in "A House for Mother", then finish that one short story about two free-lance journalists who flash their press cards to get service everywhere they go, until they do it in Chimanimani and no one knows what they are doing...., or perhaps post an update about how I am happy about what everyone else is doing: Petina Gappah's official Faber website is up, Ignatius ...

Left: V.S. Chochezi. On Monday, February 16, I will host a poetry reading at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Six plus poets are expected to participate in this event that honors Black History Month. I will be posting profiles of the poets here until the day of the event. We start with a vibrant poet, activist,dancer, scholar, educator: Sista V.S. Chochezi. Bio: V.S. Chochezi is a poet, writer, communicator, educator and activist. She has been widely published, has shared her poetry all over the country, has won numerous awards and accolades. She and her mother, Staajabu self-published six written collections and two cds of their poetry. They co-hosted a poetry venue at Carol’s Books for 10 years. They also performed their poetry under the name Straight Out Scribes. Though the Scribes are now bi-coastal, they still get together occassionally for that purpose. When Chochezi is not working or poeting, you will often find her in a West African dance class. She currently performs with Umoj...