Overview

Pomona's second poet laureate Ceasar K. Avelar and the host of Pomona's longest running poetry venue Cory ""Besskepp"" Cofer join forces as editors of an anthology collecting poetry and essays about the people and places of Pomona. Poets who have read and performed over the decades at poetry venues based in Pomona: A Mic and Dim Lights and Obsidian Tongues, explore themes of grief, memory, injustice, trauma, and healing. This collection features work by Michael Torres, Matt Sedillo, Judah 1, Tamara Blue, Kat Magill, Alex Tha Great, Natalie Sierra and more.

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Ceasar K. Avelar is the second poet laureate of Pomona, CA. As a poet, Ceasar is dedicated to the working class. He is the author of God of the Air Hose and Other Blue-Collar Poems (El Martillo Press, 2023). His poems speak the truth, not only to people in a position of power, but also to the everyday person that views the working class as a stigmatized identity. Ceasar is of Central American descent. His mother is an immigrant from Honduras and his father is from El Salvador. Ceasar's poems tell the stories of workers of color, their families and the obstacles they face in the United States; not just as workers, but as immigrants living in a country where their existence is commodified. Ceasar is the resident poet for Café con Libros Press, a cultural center and bookstore. He runs Obsidian Tongues open mic, which strives to bring poetry, art, and free expression to the community of Pomona. HBO Def Poet, author, and member of two National Poetry Slam Teams, Cory Besskepp Cofer mergers originality and heritage with performances at countless colleges, cafés, arenas, festivals and coffeehouses. Twice named teacher of the year, he was featured by the Los Angeles Times for his academic innovation that incorporates Hip Hop and poetry into the classroom. By mixing classical structure with an urban flavor, Besskepp creates literature that deconstucts the complex issues facing youth today through non-elitist language. In 2005, his Hip Hop Theater Play, Homeless Beatboxer was twice featured at the REDCAT Theater at Disney Hall. ""Besskepp"" celebrates 25 years as the host of A Mic and Dim Lights open mic and events series with co-founder and DJ, JB. Artist Shelley Bruce is a creative based in Long Beach, with a mission to serve the world's greatest challenges through spirituality, poetry, painting and community organizing.A Cal Poly Pomona graduate with degrees in Ethnic Studies and Fine Art, as well as background in Reiki & meditation, Shelley's creative focus centers on painting, poetry, spirituality & activism. She has featured poetry at countless shows, produced social justice events for 10+ years, founded and directed nonprofit educational programs, but most notably has traveled to Washington, DC, San Diego, New York, Ghana, the UK, and Bermuda sharing her painting. Her first publication of poetry, On Blooming, was released in fall 2018, & painting series Heaven Here released in fall 2019. Shelley is also the founder of the event series HEALING, that produces protests based in wellness to powerfully rejuvenate & inspire communities.

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