TONYC has poetry on the streets!

Last night,
Concrete Justice,
the acting troupe of the Theatre of the Oppressed in New YorK City,
had the grand launch party
for their kickstarter-funded book,
"Street Poetry".
Success!
I have my very own copy, as you see here.
Someone in a homeless shelter
also has a copy of this book,
thanks to my support.
Thirteen other homeless shelters
also have copies of the book,
thanks to other backers of the project.
Think about that for a moment.

Fourteen shelters of the homeless,
all reading the words and seeing the artwork
contributed by other homeless men and women.
Fourteen shelters of the homeless,
each receiving the same book as a reward
as did I and thirteen other supporters.
You see, I backed the project at the level
which would not only garner a reward for me,
but for someone less fortunate.
Much as I did for another book project.
I can't speak for the rationales of the other supporters, though it is good to know they were willing to back the project at the same level - or higher - than I did. I can only speak of my motivation. You see, I'm grateful to be able to share the lagniappe from my mother's estate with others. I know she would want me to use the money in a good way - and I think kickstarter has allowed me to be a proud supporter of the creative endeavors of talented people in this world ccommunity.
Even better, I can benefit others who don't even know about these projects.
That is definitely a win-win situation.
And, as I had said before, I'll make sure my middle brother benefits from this book, too.
Maybe others in Georgia will be interested in the book, maybe even inspired to create their own outlets for their thoughts and emotions and perspectives.
Maybe someone will feel less alone and more part of a community.
One can always hope.

warrior writers: after action review

Today, I finished reading the two books I received for backing this kickstarter project.
I can hear you now: Two books? I thought you were getting one?
Well, I was only supposed to receive the third anthology, After Action Review - but it was to be autographed. When it arrived in December, just a month after I had backed the project, I was very impressed with the professional quality of the publication. Glossy cover, nice artwork outside and in, well-bound volume; you can order your own copy here.
I really liked the bookmark, too, as it features handmade paper and has a "fashioned in the field" quality.
There was just one problem: my copy of the the book was not personalized for me.
So, I contacted them, asking if I should be looking on some particular page...
Warrior Writers
Dec 28, 2011
Hello Faustina,
First off, I would like to apologize for the mix-up and the delay in response. The holidays have been crazy and we're still reeling with excitement of having the book!
There must have been confusion during our packing party and we would like to send you a signed book. Would you like a signed copy of After Action Review or would you like a signed copy of one of our other two anthologies: Move, Shoot, and Communicate or Re-Making Sense?
You can check out the other two books here:
http://www.printmojo.com/WarriorWriters/
Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and would like to make this right.
Thank you,
Jamie
Above and beyond the call of duty was their response! That was impressive, too.

I selected the first anthology -
best to begin at the beginning, right?
Plus, I really liked the title,
Move, Shoot, and Communicate,
as it reminded me of a favorite joke,
the one featuring pandas.
As you can see by comparing the books in the two photographs, the two issues are quite different in appearance. The first anthology was less than thirty pages and was a chapbook. The third book is close to two hundred pages and was professionally published. Going to kickstarter to generate funds was apparently a very good move for Warrior Writers!
But it is important to note that the quality of the content is the same in both books. That content is derived from the healing writing of the veterans involved in the workshops. Maybe you know someone who might benefit from learning to loose their demons through print - or by reading the words of others who are doing so.

warrior writers: third anthology

Straight up: I backed this one because it's ending on Veteran's Day and is of benefit to veterans. I'm a veteran myself, of the United States Navy, and I have several friends who are counselors for military clients.
This "Global War on Terror" has taken some serious tolls on our young people. Every one of the soldiers who return have damage, whether it's visible or not. Many times, that invisible wear and tear on the human psyche is far more difficult to repair.
That's where this kickstarter campaign comes in. Warrior Writers, an organization in Philadelphia, has already published two collections of works by GWOT veterans and is trying to get volume three into hands where it can help, heal, and inspire. Amazingly, this nonprofit had its origin in 2007, as did my life after divorce...as did my beach on these virtual shores.
Yet another reason for me to support this project. I know firsthand how helpful my writing has been for me. In times of stress, I can fight my invisible trees amid the clouds of ether - and, if not vanquish them, at least quell their assault on my mind.
Here's hoping that others will be able to benefit from this third anthology - as well as the ones before it, and the ones which will surely follow.

concrete justice: street poetry

Poetry by homeless people?
You bet.
Everyone has music in their souls, words that need release, thoughts to be freed.
That's part of the reason I blog. The outlet is good for me, whether anyone else ever reads the words or not.
Concrete Justice, a group in New York, have been performing their works on the stage for the past year and a half. Now, they want to share their message about homelessness, from a personal perspective, with a broader audience.
Enter kickstarter. As they say, they're taking their stories "from the street to the stage to the page" - to the world. The book will contain not just poetry, but also drawings, photographs, and prose.
But books require a good deal of money to become reality, especially on the scale these folks are attempting to achieve. So, I've joined the others backing this project by throwing my Benjamin into the pile.
We'll all find out tomorrow if they are successful.
I hope so. I'd like to be able to share the book with my middle brother. He's had bouts of homelessness for the last ten years - maybe even more than that. Once upon a time, we worried quite a lot about him, but being in a tent in the woods was fine with him. No rules but his, thank you very much.
But last year, he had a TMI while he was with his then-girlfriend. Thank God she called 911 and notified my older brother and myself. On her phone. He had no phone at the time, rebelling against the tether to others.
Now, he still has bouts of homelessness, periods when he wants no rules but his. But he has a phone. I have insisted on that one item in his pocket. I even pay for it every month, so he will always have a lifeline to use if he needs it. He even calls me once in a while.
I wonder what he will think of this book?
I'll have to ask him when I get my copy of it.