Free Writing Workshops
Saturday September 12
@ the Coney Island Library, 1901 Mermaid Ave @ 19th Street
WRITING POEMS WITH CONFIDENCE
With Cara Benson
Who gets to say? You do. This is not self-centeredness.
This isn't finding your voice. We're talking about righteousness
in the face of oppression. We're saying the space a poem emanates from
is sacred, even and especially in the age of branding, marketing, politics,
and other "information." We will read, talk, listen, and absolutely write.
Materials provided.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
CONEY ISLAND ON OUR
MINDS
With Patricia Spears Jones
I am waiting for my case to come up
and I am waiting
for a rebirth of wonder
and I am waiting for someone
to really discover America
and wail
-- Lawrence Ferlinghetti
A workshop for adults to write about how
Coney Island is on their minds as desire, memory, wish, and what they are
waiting for. Over 50 years ago, Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote the beat classic
A Coney Island of the Mind and he wasn’t even
from Coney Island! Bring your memories and imagination and write or wail. Materials provided.
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
REGISTER NOW. It’s FREE and easy. Just call 347.267.6696 or email
Class size is limited, so sign up early.
www.ciparachutefestival.com
parachutefestival@gmail.com.
CARA BENSON has two poem books, (made) and Protean Parade, forthcoming from BookThug and Black Radish respectively and edits the online jour
Sous Rature (www.necessetics.com/sousrature.html). "Quantum Chaos and Poems: A Manifest(o)ation" (BookThug) co-won the bpNichol Prize. Other
work includes: Belladonna Elders Series #7 with Anne Waldman and Jayne Cortez (Belladonna), "UP" (Dusie), and "Spell/ing ( ) Bound" with Kai FierleHedrick and Kathrin Schaeppi (ellectrique press). Benson edited the interdisciplinary book Predictions forthcoming from Chain. She teaches poetry in a N
State Prison.
Born and raised in Arkansas, PATRICIA SPEARS JONES aka Patricia Jones has lived in New York City since the mid-1970s
where she has been involved in the city's poetry and theater scenes as poet, editor, anthologist, teacher and former Program
Coordinator for the Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church and working with Mabou Mines, the internationally acclaimed theater
collective.
Check us out on Facebook! PARACHUTE: The Coney Island Performance Festival
Calling all poets, emcees, spoken word artists, ranters, activists and
literati!
FREE SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOP SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 @
3pm
Urban Word NYC Spoken Word 101 Workshop:
In this workshop teen writers will experiment, explore and explode their
work in performance. All forms of written/spoken expressions are
nurtured. Join us in a poetic social dialogue transcending barriers of
race, class, gender, culture and sexuality.
TO SIGN UP: email parachutefestival@gmail.com
Or call 347.267.6696
WHERE: The Coney Island Library, 1901 Mermaid Ave @ 19th Street.
WHEN: Saturday, September 12, 3:00 pm
WHO: Teenagers, ages 13 to 19
About Urban Word:
Founded on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC™ has been at the
forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999. UW
presents literary arts education and youth development programs in the areas of creative writing, journalism,
college prep, literature and hip-hop. UW provides FREE, safe and uncensored writing workshops to teens year
round, and hosts the Annual NYC Teen Poetry Slam, NY Knicks Poetry Slam, local and national youth slams,
festivals, reading series, open mics, and more.
Urban Word NYC believes that free self-expression —— matured in an enhanced critical literacy environment
—— improves self-confidence and strengthens educational achievement for NYC’s inner city youth. We
promote active literacy, critical thought, and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class,
gender, culture, and sexuality. Our many workshops are designed to enhance critical thinking skills, leadership,
and to ignite a personal commitment to growth and learning which leads to heightened in-school
performance, and greater interest in pursuing higher education.
Check us out on Facebook! PARACHUTE: The Coney Island Performance Festival