Dear Friends, 

Happy Women's History Month! Every Day / All Day - we have the opportunity to respect and appreciate the women of the world. Let's commit to listening, believing, and following women to combat the persistent misogynistic divisive rhetoric and behavior that hurts us all. In large and small ways, we can show up for the women in our lives and communities. Read books by women. Recommend and hire women for leadership roles. Pay women an equal and living wage. Let women be.   

I'm currently reading An American Sunrise by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and I'm sitting with the intense pain embedded in the land and the tenderly powerful work women, especially women of color, do to listen and heal and make ready for what is to come. I'm grateful to have studied with Joy as a student at Stonecoast MFA and for the many ways she taught me how to care for my work and self. 

Who are the women you are thankful for? How are you showing up for them? 

Onward with love,

Amanda 

UPCOMING EVENTS

3/8/20 - Revel: Witness, Austin, TX 

Before we can put our house in order, we must first bear witness to the broken places. This musical and poetic tour de force serves as both a cathartic lament for loss and a rousing celebration of strength. Music by Chopin, Paul Wiancko, Arvo Pärt, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Evan Chambers. Poetry by Amanda Johnston from her book Another Way to Say Enter. (Amanda Johnston, poet / Sunil Gadgil, alto saxophone / Zach Matteson, violin / Blake Turner, viola / Matt Kufchak, cello / Carla McElhaney, piano)

6/7 - 13/20 - Cave Canem Retreat

Cave Canem’s week-long retreat for Black poets is held annually at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Faculty: Major Jackson, Robin Coste Lewis, Evie Shockley and Frank X Walker. Guest: francine j. harris

7/22 - 8/6/20 - Hedgebrook Residency

Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer.

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CHECK AMANDAJOHNSTON.COM FOR DETAILS & MORE DATES

Sadly, the For Colored Girls panel at AWP was canceled where I was to rep for Lady in Green. It's planned to come back 2021 in Kansas City, MO. Enjoy this clip of Alfre Woodard slaying this monologue.