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PEN AMERICA, World Voices Festival … Gender and Power in the Age of Trump

“PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide.”

“Join more than 150 writers and artists from 40 countries as PEN World Voices takes on today’s restive relationship between Gender and Power in the age of Trump. In this moment of unprecedented threats to freedom and truth and of emboldened mobilization and resistance the Festival will use the lens of literature to examine bigotry, misogyny, and xenophobia. Celebrate the transcendent power of art to enable people to see beyond their differences with conversations, readings, and workshops taking place throughout New York City.”

PEN America has announced that leading Russian and American journalist and author Masha Gessen, will deliver the Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture, followed by a conversation with comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee on the closing night of the PEN World Voices Festival (May 7, 5 pm, Cooper Union Office of Continuing Education and Public Programs, NYC. Tickets/Details HERE).

My apologies for the late alert on this.  I just found out about it. However, there are three more days left on the schedule for PEN World Voices Festival. For a complete schedule of events, visit: penworldvoices.org (Programming and participants subject to change.) J.D.

MARSHA GESEEN TO DELIVER ARTHUR MILLER LECTURE

May 7, 5 pm, Cooper Union Office of Continuing Education and Public Programs, NYC

by

Angelo Piro, the Digital Communications Assistant at PEN America.

This year the thirteenth annual Festival, taking place in New York from May 1-7, will address some of the vital issues of the Trump era, with a special focus on the fractious relationship between gender and power. At a moment of historic threats to freedom and truth, Ms. Gessen and Ms. Bee, both activists in their own rights, will speak to Gessen’s experience with Russian censorship and suppression of dissent, and parallels between the current administration and other authoritarian regimes.

Named for playwright Arthur Miller, an ardent advocate for free expression and longtime leader of PEN, the annual lecture is a hallmark of the Festival. In past years, the Freedom to Write Lecture has been delivered by Umberto Eco, Orhan Pamuk, Salman Rushdie, Wole Soyinka, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The event will take place at The Great Hall at Cooper Union on Sunday, May 7 at 5pm. Tickets for this and all Festival events are available at worldvoicesfestival.org

Masha Gessen (b. 1967): Russian-American journalist, author, translator and activist, outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump

Masha Gessen is the author of ten books of nonfiction, most recently The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, coming from Riverhead in October. [The book is available for preorder.] Ms. Gessen is a contributing opinion writer to The New York Times and a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books, among other publications.

Samantha Bee (b. 1969) is a Canadian-American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actress, media critic, and television host

Samantha Bee has quickly established herself as having one of the most unique and sharp comedic voices on television. Bee departed The Daily Show in 2015 and currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular Daily Show correspondent of all time. In 2016, Bee received global and critical recognition from the success of her very own award-winning weekly late night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

These are just a few of the other 150+ writers and poets presenting at this year’s Festival. If you are reading this post by way of an email subscription, it’s likely you’ll have to link through to the site to view the slide show.

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About PEN America

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

About the PEN World Voices Festival

Founded in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, by Salman Rushdie, Esther Allen, and Michael Roberts with the aim of broadening channels of dialogue between the U.S. and the world, PEN World Voices is the only international literary festival in America, and the only one in the world with a human rights focus. The Festival attracts the best-known writers from across the globe and has garnered international acclaim as a premier literary event. Since its founding 13 years ago, PEN World Voices has presented more than 1,500 writers and artists from 118 countries speaking 56 languages.

The Village Voice serves as official media sponsor of the 2017 PEN World Voices Festival.

The Festival is made possible in part through the generosity of Kaplen Brothers Fund, Ford Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Embrey Family Foundation, Amazon Crossing, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Twitter: @PENworldvoices/#PENFest
Facebook: facebook.com/PENworldvoices
Instagram: @pen_america
Tumblr: penamerican.tumblr.com

Thanks to PEN America and Angelo Piro for this piece, to Isabelle Deconinck for the slide show photographs and to reader Maureen D and to Tatyana at http://www.arts-ny.com for the heads-up; photo credits, Masha Geeson courtesy of Bengt Oberger under CC BY-SA 4.0 license and Samantha Bee courtesy of Justin Hoch under CC BY-SA 2.0. Slide show photographs are under author or photographer copyright.

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and other News and Information

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunities Knock

ARTFUL DODGE (Ohio), a publication of The College of Wooster with support from The Ohio Arts Council, publishes American fiction, poetry and narrative essay and contemporary literature in translation.  Guidelines are HERE.  

THE BeZINE submissions for the May 2017 issues (theme: Honesty and Transparency, the Post-truth Era) should be in by May 10th latest.  Publication date is May 15th. Poetry, essays,fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration. Please check out a few issues first and the Intro./Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. Email submissions to bardogroup@gmail.com

3 ELEMENTS REVIEW is an online zine publishing poetry, fiction and nonfiction quarterly. Today is the last day to submit for the summer issue but submissions for the fall issue open tomorrow (May 1) and extend through July 31.  As of today the three elements for the fall issue have not been announced. Submission guidelines HERE.  

ZYMBOL, Hybrid Literature for Surreal Brains, publishes books (effective 2018) and a magazine. Of the magazine this press writes: “Zymbol magazine is published on an annual basis and we are open to all genres and styles of writing. Each edition will have a small section dedicated to the our symboilst and surrealist roots, but will also publish general poetry, fiction, memoir, flash and mixed-genre work.” Details HERE.

KILLING THE BUDDHA is an online zine featuring religion, culture and politics. “It began on November 13, 2000, when Peter Manseau and Jeff Sharlet invited readers who are both hostile and drawn to talk of God to join them in building an electronic Tower of Babel, a Talmudic cathedral of stories about faith lost and found. They named it after a saying of the Chinese Buddhist sage Lin Chi.” Genres they lean toward publishing include “reportage, essays, criticism, rants, prayers.” They are disinclined to publish poetry and fiction. Details HERE.

ANTÍPHON, providing a showcase or the best in contemporary British and international poetry has an open call for submissions (though May 31) for issue 21.  Details HERE.

CHERRY TREE, A National Literary Journal @ Washington College welcomes submission of “poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and literary shade.” Reading period is three months only from August 1 through October 1. Payment is $20 and 2 copies.  Submission guidelines HERE.

WRITER’S ALLIANCE OF GAINSVILLE [WAG] fosters creative expression through the written word has an open call for submissions through May 31, 2017  for its eighth annual edition of Bacopa Literary Review, an international print journal. Prizes are one $400 prize in each for a flash story, poetry, literary fiction, and creative nonfiction. There is a submission fee of $3. All published authors receive a copy of the print journal and will also be promoted online after publication. Details HERE.

THE SOUTHHAMPTON REVIEW a publication of Stony Brook Southhampton (graduate arts campus, MFA program in New York), will open for reading from August 15 – October 15. This pubication features fiction, poetry, nonfiction, plays and screenplays, and art (fine art, photography, cartoons, illustration). Details HERE.

CONTESTS

  • Red Hen Press, 2017 BENJAMIN SALTMAN POETRY AWARD , $3,000 and four-week residency. Deadline: October 31 Details HERE.
  • Red Hen Press, 2017 RED HEN PRESS FICTION AWARD, $1,000 and publication. Deadline: August 31. Details HERE.
  • The Idaho Prize for Poetry is an annual, national competition offering $1,000 plus publication by Lost Horse Press for a book-length poetry manuscript. Manuscripts are accepted for review through May 15 and the winner announced on August 15. Details HERE.
  • Spokane Prize for Short Fiction,Willow Springs Books, in collaboration with Lost Horse Press, invites submissions for The 2016 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction: $2,000 plus publication by LOST HORSE PRESS/Willow Springs Books. Submission deadline: June 1, 2016 Details HERE.

EVENTS

  • NaPoWriMo, 30 poems in 30 days: The theme for May is a story a day. Check it out HERE.
  • CATSKILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER BOOK FAIR, free event on Saturday June 24, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. CATSKILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER 5096 NEW YORK 28, MOUNT TREMPER, NY, 12457 Details HERE.
  • LOST HORSE PRESS is pleased to present PIE & WHISKEY & MOTHERS: Reading, Pie Eating, Whiskey Drinking & Book Signing featuring Kate Lebo & Sam Ligon Saturday, 13 May 2017 • 1 pm • Sandpoint Library Rude Girls Room
    Free Admission • Everyone’s invited! Spokane, Washington Details HERE.

“The chamber choir, for which I sing, along with two other local choirs (Stannington Mixed and Thurgoland Community Choir) and the talented Inyerface Arts musicians and soloists, are performing John Rutter’s Requiem as the core of a concert on Saturday, 27th May at the magnificent Victoria Hall in Sheffield. It would be very much appreciated it if you were able to share this amongst your friends, who might enjoy an amazing choral experience … Thank you.” John Anstie (My Poetry Library), is a singer, musician, poet and a member of The BeZine core team.

Kudos

NEWS and OTHER INFORMATION

BONUS

If you are reading this post from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to link through to view this video of Stephen Fry reading John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale:

Stephen Fry’s The Ode Less Traveled is one of The Poet by Day recommended reads. In it encourages delight in writing poetry and offers some fine tools to build the confidence in aspiring poets, introducing metre, rhyme, form, diction and poetics.

The recommended read: On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder. Left, right or center – American or not – it’s a must read.

THE WORDPLAY SHOP: books, tools and supplies for poets, writers and readers

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

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LATE BREAKING NEWS: Contests from PEN America and (3) University of Arkansas Press

opportunity knocks

The PEN Center USA Literary Awards, Calls for Submissions:”… is accepting teleplays by writers living west of the Mississippi River. Entries are reviewed and judged by panels of distinguished writers, critics, and editors. Winners will be announced in the late summer of 2017. Each winner receives a $1,000 cash prize, a one-year membership to PEN Center USA, and two tickets to the Literary Awards Festival in the fall of 2017.” Further Details HERE.

The University of Arkansas Press has deadlines coming up on three contests:

  • $5,000 Miller Poetry Prize deadline is September 30, 2017.  The judge is Billy Collins and the entry fee is $28.  This is for collections. Further details HERE.
  • 2018 $1,000 Etel Adnan Poetry Prize for a second book of poetry in English by a writer of Arab heritage.  “Since its founding in 1996 the Radius of Arab American Writers has celebrated and fostered the writings and writers that make up the vibrant and diverse Arab American community; and the University of Arkansas Press has long been committed to publishing diverse kinds of poetry by a diversity of poets. The series editors are Hayan Charara and Fady Joudah, and the prize is named in honor of the world-renowned poet, novelist, essayist, and artist Etel Adnan.”  $25 entry fee. Hayan Charara and Fady Joudah are judges and the series’ editors. Further detail HERE. April 15, 2017 is the dealine to be considered for the 2018 prize.
  • 2018 $1,000 CantoMundo Poetry Prize for “a book of poetry by a Latina/o writer. Since its founding in 2009, CantoMundo has cultivated and supported a community of Latina/o poets and the poetry they create, and the University of Arkansas Press has long been committed to publishing diverse kinds of poetry by a diversity of poets.” Deborah Paredez and Celeste Gúzman Mendoza are the judges and the series’ editors. $28 entry free. Further detail HERE. April 15, 2017 is the deadline to be considered for the 2018 prize.
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Californians Rally Around “The California Values Act” in Sacramento (March 15) and San Mateo Residents Prepare Signs/Banners (March 13)

STATEWIDE CALL TO ACTION

Support the California Values Act

The March 15 rally in Sacramento to support SB 54, the California Values Act, is hosted by PICO California and partners.

“PICO California is the largest multi-racial faith-based community-organizing network in the state connecting and leveraging the power of the people to impact broad systemic change. Motivated by various prophetic traditions, we ground our civic action and demands for change in moral and ethical principles. We use a relationship-based organizing model to develop leadership and build capacity for civic engagement in communities throughout California.” MORE

The California Values Act and the people who support it are concerned with the injustices implicit in recent executive orders that marginalize and put at risk Muslims, people fleeing violence, undocumented immigrants and retaliation against our sanctuary cities.  Many citizens feel that these actions encourage hate and  racial profiling and are immoral and in direct conflict with the American traditions that have made us the great nation that we are. (Detail on SB 54 in the third section of this feature.)

MARCH 13, UUSM JUSTICE ACTION MONDAYS: FLASH ADVOCACY

Standing on the Side of Love

Unitarian Universalist Church of San Mateo California

In preparation for the rally, this Monday, March 13, the greater San Mateo community is invited to the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo (UUSM) Justice Action Mondays/Flash Advocacy to prepare signs and banners for the rally on March 15 in Sacramento in support of SB 54, the California Values Act. SB 54 is proposed legislation by California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles). The intention of SB 54 is to prevent the use of state and local public resources to aid federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in deportation actions.

UUSM Justice Action Mondays: Flash Advocacy: a new theme every Monday, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, youth room, Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, 300 E. Santa Inez Ave., San Mateo, CA  94401. Free event and open to the greater community. Supplies, snacks and interesting conversation are provided.

SB 54, THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT

A Wall of Justice

State Capitol, Sacramento, CA

Last December California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 54, the California Values Act, to prevent the use of state and local public resources to aid federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in deportation actions.

California State Senator,Kevin de León (b1966)California State Senate.Democrat – 45th District

“To the millions of undocumented residents pursuing and contributing to the California Dream, the State of California will be your wall of justice [against the adoption of] an inhumane and over-reaching mass-deportation policy,” said Senator de León. “We will not stand by and let the federal government use our state and local agencies to separate mothers from their children.”

SB 54 will ban state and local law enforcement officials from performing the functions of a federal immigration officer. The California Values Act does not prevent state and local departments or agencies from complying with a judicial warrant to transfer violent offenders into federal custody for immigration enforcement purposes.

“The right to due process is the bedrock of the U.S. criminal justice system,” said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. “A warrant requirement will enable California to preserve our civil liberties and enhance public safety by maintaining the trust and effectiveness of law enforcement. A warrant requirement will ensure the government confirms a person’s identity and whether they are subject to deportation before they can be detained, thereby preventing citizens, authorized immigrants and victims of crime from being jailed.”

District Attorney Gascón, formerly San Francisco’s Police Chief and Deputy Police Chief in Los Angeles, added that public safety suffers when local police enforce immigration laws. “When victims of crime don’t come forward for fear of immigration consequences, the impact on public safety reaches far beyond immigrant communities,” he said.

The California Values Act will also create “safe zones” throughout the state by prohibiting immigration enforcement on public school, hospital, and courthouse premises. To ensure eligible immigrants are not deterred from seeking services and engaging with state agencies, the bill also requires state agencies to review and update confidentiality policies.

California State Flag

“In California we have policies that provide health, safety, education, and an environment where all people can thrive,” said Assembly member Marc Levine (D-Marin County) principal co-author of SB 54. “California is a state where everyone is welcome. SB 54 will make it clear California public schools, hospitals, and courthouses will not be used by the Trump regime to deport our families, friends, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers.”

[The President’s] reckless comments about immigrants and deportation has honest, hardworking families living in fear and their children being taunted at school, Senator de León during the December unveiling of a separate “Immigrants Shape California” package.

“I cannot stand by and allow federal ICE agents to use state and local dollars, data, personnel, and facilities to help deport the very families who contribute so much to our economy and community,” he said.

California State Seal

Cynthia Buiza, Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, added: “The California Values Act answers the ugly slurs of xenophobia with a simple but profound truth: all people are created equal. Against Trump and other forces who seek to demonize and persecute immigrants, the Golden State must embrace and defend our common humanity and deepest values. Getting law enforcement out of painful deportations, protecting the integrity of public spaces, and rejecting any registry which targets Muslims will send a potent message to the nation – and the world.”

Marcus McKinney, Policy Director, People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO) California, said: “As a faith-based organization we wholeheartedly oppose draconian deportation policies out of the new administration in Washington that will further exacerbate racial profiling. California must take an aggressive stance against these policies to ensure families are not torn apart by reactionary and divisive immigration policies.”

Angie Junck, Supervising Attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, said: “In continuation of California’s long-standing history of welcoming, the CA Values Act presents a prime opportunity to ensure that our law enforcement and local governments are no longer a front door to deportation for our residents.”

The … government [effectively] sanctioned discrimination that runs counter to our values as Californians, would unfairly target millions of hard working families, devastate our economy and impose unfair burdens on taxpayers,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “The California Values Act reflects our common ideals and reaffirms our shared responsibilities.”

Photo credits: California Flag and Seal of California, public domain; California State Capitol courtesy of Rafal Konieczny under CC BY-SA 4.0 license; photograph of California State Senator Kevin de Léon courtesy of Neon Tommy under CC BY-SA license; UUSM illustration coutresy of the Unitarian Universalists and all rights reserved

Support justice in California and the people and institutions that are working for that objective. Please reblog and share links to this on Facebook and Twitter and attend the rally if that’s possible for you.