Whew! We're here. Now what????

Dear friends,

We are here! Now what? Well, first I want to sit in gratitude for the blessings and lessons of 2020. Some of those blessings were amazing - like visiting Jamaica for the first time, and some of the lessons were a punch in the gut - death, mental health, etc. Every minute of 2020 was a moment to listen, learn and grow and I am thankful I was here to do it. It was hard, but there was joy too. Below is a look back at 2020 and some moments that will carry me into 2021.

2020 - I DID THAT!

January

• Second year of vision boards with the ladies. A lot on that board came to be. Let’s roll that energy into this year’s vision board! (see image below)
• Started a new year as board president of Cave Canem Foundation. So proud of the work the board and staff did to strengthen the organization and continue serving the artistic and professional needs of Black poets. Onward!

February

• Visited Maine College virtually for their cultural festival.
• Served as a judge for the Texas Poetry Out Loud finals.
• Facilitated the TORCH Wildfire Reading Series featuring KB.
• My poem “Gender Reveal” was included in the Furious Flower anthology!

March

• Read for the Revisiting the Elegy in the Black Lives Matter Era book launch in Austin. Happy to be included in the book and for Dr. Sequoia Manor interviewing me about BPSO.
• Performed with REVEL to create “Witness” an arrangement of classical music and poetry.
• Traveled to Jamaica with Fabian for our anniversary. Good times! (before Covid19 lockdown)

April

• Served as a judge for the Balcones Book Prize. Congratulations to Maya Phillips and the finalists!
• Celebrated National Poetry Month by attending some dope poetry events online.

May

• Sat still. Reflected. Donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
• Became a plant mommy. My green babies are healthy and thriving!

June

• Wrote and shared a new poem “LIST OF THINGS SAID TO ME OTHER THAN THE N WORD WHILE BLACK PEOPLE WERE BEING MURDERED.” Black Lives Matter
• Celebrated THE Patricia Smith and read during her virtual birthday celebration with 65+ phenomenal poets!

July

• Paired Lucille Clifton’s poem “won’t you celebrate with me” with instructions for how to wash your hands. “Every day something has tried to kill me and has failed”
• Watched the visual masterpiece that is Black Is King by Beyonce. Already!

August                                                  

• Featured Artist of the Month for Interfaces
• Started a new school year during uncertain times. We showed up for students and each other in the fall now let’s finish strong in the spring!

September

• Celebrated another trip around the sun. Grateful for another year on this journey.
• Performed virtually for the Kentucky Womens Writers Conference’s Wild Women of Poetry Showcase.
• Read and discussed ALL the things with KB, Dr. Sequoia Manor and Kate Kelly for the Library Foundation’s event Poetry as Praise, Protest & Power.

October

• Voted early in Texas for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and helped turn Williamson County BLUE!
• Rocked a dope rainbow unicorn bubble suit for Halloween. Fun! (that's me above)
• Interviewed by Stonecoast MFA. Read here! 

November

• Virtual lecture and reading at McMaster University in Canada. Great students!
• ​Cooked Thanksgiving dinner and delivered it to my family. Safer apart! Thankful always.

December

• Closed out the year reading with incredible poets for Soul Sister Review & Women Writers in Bloom!

In addition to all of this, there were small joys and kindnesses that happened. Above all, carry that with you into 2021 and beyond. If all we have is each other, we are rich! 

Warmly,

Amanda 

P.S. Wear a mask and lead with love. 

My 2021 Vision Board - Claim Your Power!