JP HOWARD
Poet and activist JP Howard aka Juliet P. Howard helps others find their voices as the founder and curator of Women Writers in Bloom Poetry Salon [WWBPS] (facebook.com/WomenWritersinBloomPoetrySalon). “So much of what I do as nurturer of the Salon is to bring a diverse group of writers, mostly women and many LGBTQ PoC, together in a safe, supportive space to write our way through the world each month,” she says. She describes “the gathering of community in someone’s home or welcoming community space to celebrate our voices” as “a necessary act of self-care.” The salons can go up to four or five hours, include food, wine and interactive workshops, and provide artists with a way to collaborate and express both frustrations and goals. “Hearing uplifting updates and self-affirmations from our Salon members is always rewarding. Women writers who once considered themselves closet poets [who] wrote in secret are now enrolled in MFA programs across the country; others who were once shy now participate in our monthly Salon open mics; many feature at venues across NYC and others have debut books and chapbooks forthcoming and/or are getting published in literary journals. The celebration of each other and our powerful voices is incredibly affirming for all who participate.” –GH
What Do You Think?