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“To Create is in Our Nature” is the latest workshop being offered by Rockford’s Severson Dells Nature Center.
Christopher D. Sims.
Credit https://www.seversondells.com/
Ann Wasser is the director of the center. She said the organization will focus on writing poetry inspired by nature, with the help of local poet Christopher D. Sims.
“And it was something I think that was a little unique to bring to the audience here at Severson,” she said. “And hopefully encourage other people that maybe are followers of Christopher and his work to think about incorporating nature into some of their own creativity.”
Dorothy Paige-Turner can be described as sort of well a renaissance woman.
In addition to singing and being a retired teacher, she writes books, poetry and plays, leads a number of youth art initiatives, speaks French and has received many awards for her work throughout the years. She was also inducted into the Rockford Fine Arts Coalition 2020 Hall of Fame.
Paige-Turner grew up in Arkansas. She said she had dreams of becoming an opera singer.
“I am classically trained. I mean, I have a degree in music education, special emphasis in voice, and I sang opera,” she explained,” “and I wanted to be the next Leontyne Price.”
Christopher D. Sims.
Credit Connie Kuntz
Sims is from the West Side of Rockford and first shared his poetic gifts onstage at Haskell Elementary School thanks to Dorothy Paige-Turner.
Rooted in Black joy and celebration, his poems wind through the landscapes of this country s past and present. He hopes they will inform, engage and entertain. Sims, who originally wrote rap and hip-hop lyrics, said his poetry has a bebop cadence. His poem Thinking About King: A Thesis-Poem On Leadership reflects on the years since Martin Luther King Jr. s passing.
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Credit Spencer Tritt
Join us for an evening with a few of our favorite poetry pros from across northern Illinois. WNIJ’s
Poetically Yours host Yvonne Boose will lead a discussion with Karen Fullett-Christensen, Christopher D. Sims and Rhonda Parsons on writing poetry during a pandemic and tips they have if you are looking to turn your ideas into stanzas. Plus, our poets will share examples of their work live!
Learn more about these poets whose work has appeared on Poetically Yours Fridays at 12:31 p.m. and 6:18 p.m. on 89.5.
Karen Fullett-Christensen has been writing poetry and memory stories since high school, and credits two of her English teachers, Mr. Vespo and Mr. Brown, for their encouragement and support. She has self-published over 20 manuscripts. She is the current poet laureate for the city of Aurora. She was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, in the Albany Park and Budlong Woods neighborhoods. She is a 1968 graduate of Mather High School and a 1972 grad
Kwanzaa is near, almost here.
December 26th thru January 1st
we burst into its purposeful
activities. In this season we
feel the presence of the Ancestors;
we remember their journeys, their struggles. We light seven candles during Kwanzaa s seven days to obey and adhere to each principle. Kwanzaa is not Christmas. Kwanzaa is not to focus on the outer but the inner. The black, red, green and gold holds the principle, the purpose together. Kwanzaa is an African inspired celebration to pause the nation so we honor what is whole, empowering. Black families gather in delight when it is Kwanzaa time. We build in the heart, we use the powers of the mind. We find our highest selves in Kwanzaa. This December 26th as we light the candles let s remember also the lost lives that won t be here to say “Hibara Gani?” As we struggle still for Black liberation let us know that Kwanzaa is for the building up of the African American nation. Teach Black children about Kwanzaa. Help them learn o