On the 5/29/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Maria Breaux discusses her recent grant to write a book in honor of her brother, Davis Breaux. She intends to write about his time as a student and dancer, his spiritual awakening, and his time in Davis. She will be holding an event at Davis community church in the fellowship hall at 5:30 pm on June 3rd to remember David. Katy Brown explains the importance of finding community and listening to other voices. Dr. Andy and Brown discuss their favorite places to write, and Brown reads a poem titled “By the Stone Steps.” Sandré Henriquez Nelson shares the many exciting community events organized for Davis Pride and Pride Month.

Maria Breaux is a San Francisco-based filmmaker and writer. Recently grappling with an unimaginable loss—the tragic murder of her brother, known locally in Davis, California, as "the Compassion Guy"—Maria wants to continue candidly sharing her journey in cultivating compassion amid grief, drawing from her brother's profound legacy of collecting definitions of compassion to navigate through the most challenging phase of her life.

Katy Brown, a resident of Davis, California, was a Supervisor of Social Workers at Adult Protective Services in Sacramento. She has won awards in The Ina Coolbrith Circle, The Berkeley Poets Dinner, and California Federation of Chaparral Poets, Inc. competitions. She has had poems in Glass Art Magazine, Wee Wisdom, Daily Word, Harpstrings, Song of the San Joaquin, and Rattlesnake Review. Her workbook, Poetry Potions, was used in schools for nearly twenty years and has been released digitally. Her other writing credits include automobile humor, greeting cards, a multiple-ending book, and short mysteries for young readers. She wrote a regular “Snake Eyes” column for Rattlesnake Review.

Sandré Henriquez Nelson is a native Californian born and raised in Oakland. Sandre has served as the Davis Pride Director since it was rebranded in 2015. He has worked alongside a great team to build the event from about 500 attendees to an estimated 6500 attendees at the 2023 festival. Along with his pride work, he is excited to volunteer with various community groups both here in Davis and his former home town of Fairfield. Sandré and his husband of three years are proud Davis residents.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.

On the 5/22/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Jared Stanley explains his decision to use a common phrase with many meanings to title his most recent book of poetry, So Tough. Stanley mentions the theme of air in his poems, which were written in 2021 during the pandemic, rampant wildfires, and the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. He then reads a few poems from his book and shares the importance of ongoing writing and notebooks that he implements as an educator. Cami Rothmuller discusses her interest in geology and her upcoming poetry reading at the Self Design Art gallery in Sacramento, before reading a beautiful geological sonnet. After being offered an academic and athletic scholarship, Silas Wanje made the move from Kenya to California. During his time in academia, he met a professor that encouraged his writing, and his love of freeform poetry grew from there. Wanje closes out the podcast by reading a poem about loss and anticoagulants.

Jared Stanley is a poet and writer who often collaborates with artists. He is the author of four collections of poetry, So Tough, EARS, The Weeds, and Book Made of Forest. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Bennington Review, Harvard Review, VOLT, Folder Magazine, and many others. Originally from Northern California, he teaches in the MFA Program in creative writing at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Cami Rothmuller is finishing up her bachelor's in English at UC Davis, and will be beginning her creative writing MFA studies this fall at the Michener Center for Writers at University of Texas, Austin. She writes often about nature, madness, intimacy, and secular worship.

Silas Wanje was born and raised under the unforgiving Kenyan skies. He fell in love with words as a teen, and has not stopped writing since. He moved from Africa to California about ten years ago and now, he calls Sacramento home. Wanje is a transplant nurse by day, but you can find him wandering around midtown with a pen in hand or playing soccer at a nearby field.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.

On the 5/15/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Local columnist Bob Dunning discusses starting a Substack, where he has found overwhelming support from the loyal readership he garnered during his many years writing for the Davis Enterprise. Anthony Robles explains his mission to share publication opportunities with others and develop a supportive community through GTFO poetry and as an open mic host at Silver Lining Piano Bar. He then reads a haiku. Al Cortez explains how responsibilities are delegated amongst the GTFO poetry group, his style rooted in rap and observation, and an upcoming BBQ potluck in Sacramento’s McKinley Park on May 25th. He shares a poem titled “April 21st.” Anthony Xavier Jackson mentions his engagement with the arts and then reads a poem titled “Liquid Diamonds” inspired by Tori Amos. Dr. Andymentions his upcoming hosting position at the Summer Institute on Teaching and Technology to be held in September. Keith Miller, the final member of GTFO poetry, discusses his formative poetry experiences in academia; their perspective really flourished after finding community in Sacramento. Miller reads a poem called “Yellow House on 14th.” The episode concludes with a snippet of CBC news in memory of Alice Munro.

Bob Dunning has written a daily column for the Davis Enterprise for the last 54 years. Starting his time with the Enterprise in 1970 as a sports editor, he has now written about a myriad of topics, producing an estimated 28,000 pieces. At his Substack, titled The Wary One, you can read the articles and columns by the opinionated columnist, as he addresses topics with insight, humor, and irony.

Anthony Robles is a minimalist poet who specializes in the haiku and cinquain forms. He is a contributor to the Sacramento Poetry Day Curriculum and the host of the Silver Lining Open Mic.

Alexander Antonio Cortez is a Chicano spoken word poet and mosh pit enthusiast from Sacramento, California. His work has appeared in Fleas On The Dog Magazine, and Tule Review.

Anthony Xavier Jackson is a poet, performer and musician who has been writing for years about life as a queer Black man in America, recovery from substance use, and family and romantic relationships. Most recently published in the 2023 Tule Review of the Sacramento Poetry Center, Anthony is collecting works for his first full-length book of poetry.

Keith Miller, a narrative poet from Sacramento, has been captivating audiences with their poetry for decades. Keith navigates the urban landscape, shedding light on both its struggles and moments of beauty. Keith's art serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of LGBTQA+ perspectives in poetry.

The Poetry Night Reading Series is excited to feature poets from the GTFO Collective at 7 PM on Thursday, May 16th, 2024, on the first floor of the John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st Street in Davis.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.