“Light a candle,” one person said. “Load a shotgun,” another said as we brainstormed ways to address America’s current political situation at the February 19 meeting of NWU’s So Cal Chapter, which seven of us attended, including new member, Mo El Gafi Mohamed. The free floating discussion touched on a number of topics, including the […]
NWU Members 2017 Goals
As 2017 gets up to speed, it’s time for us to set our intentions. So we asked members for their goals for the year. Here’s what they shared: David Hill: I’m going to finish my manuscript, turn it in to my editor, and get back to working on freelance projects again. My book is called The […]
NWU Presence at Michigan, St. Louis Conferences
In late August, I attended the UAW Luca Communications Conference (left) in upstate Michigan. I took a Video Across Platforms class and made this video that pays tribute to UAW founder Walter Reuther and the spirit of union members coming together in support of workers rights to a living wage, benefits, etc. I imagine there […]
After Cancer, Photographer is the Picture of Health
Sharon Geiselman’s powerful image of UAW members standing along a bridge (left) emerged as one of the most affecting photographs of the August 2016 LUCA Communications Conference in Black Lake, MI. “Our theme was ‘Building Bridges, Not Walls,’ and I thought: A bridge leads you somewhere, while a wall blocks the path,” says Geiselman, who […]
Polluted Flint Water Damaged Her Health
In 2014, Debra Ryan’s health faltered. Her speech began to slur, her hands shook, and her legs went out from under her at a moment’s notice. One day, she fell and broke her arm. After doctors ruled out a stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, and genetics, Ryan got an ataxia diagnoses—a Greek term that means without order […]
So Cal Chapter Celebrates Latinex
At the recent So Cal chapter meeting, about 25 people gathered in member David Trujillo’s lovely Los Angeles backyard with its fruitful orange tree and bubbling Buddha fountain. National Writers Union members present included Trujillo, Ismael Parra, September Williams (No Cal), Dan McCrory, Eric Gordon, Elle Febbo, Marilyn Grunwald and myself. Everyone was encouraged to […]
Writing on a Greek Island
It came up at the last minute: A career coach’s newsletter had a paragraph in it about her upcoming trip to Agistri, Greece, off the coast of Athens. She would be leading morning and evening meditation, while her colleague, a woman from England, would coach the writing sessions. If I shared a room and took […]
Cool Kids Rock Netroots 2016
All the cool kids attended the recent Netroots Nation 2016 in St. Louis. It was the perfect place to be trans, a reproductive rights advocate, pushing the climate change conversation, advancing a pro-labor agenda, or leading a march through the streets of the city chanting “Black Lives Matter!” So, of course, the National Writers Union […]
A Day At Literary Women’s Festival of Authors
In early March, my friend, Barbara Shoag, invited me to the 34-year-old Literary Women: 2016 Long Beach Festival of Authors, which featured a delightful assembly of celebrated female writers. The most exciting aspect of the experience for me was learning about the authors’ varied processes. One writer who stood out was Karen Abbott, who’s historical […]
AKIL’S NEXT STAGE
As you may know, I left the NWU in January in hopes of getting my one-man show up by fall. As the months passed, the pieces did not seem to come together. That’s when I decided to up the stakes and submit my show to two festivals. Money continued to run out with no word […]
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