Broadside Press Institute of Cultural Studies 2012 Workshops

The Broadside Press Institute of Cultural Studies Summer Writing Workshops will be held on Saturdays, June 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 12 noon to 3:00 pm at the University of Detroit Mercy campus in the Commerce and Finance Bldg. Room 213. The campus is located on Livernois and McNichols in Detroit. Cost is $20.00 per workshop for adults and professionals; $10.00 for students with school ID. Workshop participants will complete an analysis of education and public schools, in Detroit and other cities. Discussion of Broadside Poets and poetry writing are included. High school students are welcome! Broadside Press is a non profit. 501-c3. To register, call or email Aurora Harris 313 673-6313 aurora917@gmail.com Mail check or money order to: Broadside Press P.O. Box 02011 Detroit, MI 48202. Also see announcement on the Broadside Press Facebook page with the photo of the founder, Dudley Randall at his typewriter

May 5, 2012: Catalog of Filipino Surnames

Good Morning, While researching my family history, I discovered an intetestieng site that lists the Filipino surnames of families that were not coverted into Spanish names. The page also contains history that includes changes in pronounciation. http://www.bibingka.com/names/

Pan-African News Wire: Detroit MLK Day Focuses on Women, Civil Rights & the Struggle Ahead

Catching up on where I've been! Check out the article about Detroit's MLK Day:

Pan-African News Wire: Detroit MLK Day Focuses on Women, Civil Rights & the Struggle Ahead

Mitzi's class paper on the Sept. 2011 Broadside Press reading at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History at http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=23&id=64675




Aurora

Book Review: Solitude of Five Black Moons

Happy Holiday's Everyone!
Frances Shani Parker submitted the following reveiw of my new poetry book.

Book Review: Solitude of Five Black Moons 

Author: Aurora Harris

Book Reviewer: Frances Shani Parker, Author of Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes

Solitude of Five Black Moons by Aurora Harris takes readers on a poetic journey through four chapters of emotional highs and lows with stations of enlightenment along the way. Warming up with scenic routes, she explores lyrically pleasant memories in the first chapter titled We Speak the Same Language. Harris, a Black Filipina American, travels onward examining various societal injustices locally and globally. She honors her ancestors from Mississippi to the Philippines, particularly her mother, and ultimately women everywhere in Remember Their Stories, the second chapter.

The word ride progresses with Harris’ historical references portraying the universal as personal, stretching readers’ understanding and empathy for shared suffering and liberation, regardless of location or culture. The Checkpoints chapter speaks to racial discrimination in America, divided Israel and Palestine, and the importance of cohesive communities. When the Poets Became Jukeboxes laments younger so-called poets’ degrading and violent expressions embracing inhumane lifestyles. Harris explains how she changes them through her teachings. Finally, there is the jazz cooldown chapter where readers, well traveled now inside themselves and others, settle into sound satisfaction with A Circular Breathing of Sunrise.

Written with eloquence and sensitivity conveying the author’s profound passion and exemplary writing skills, Solitude of Five Black Moons inspires readers’ common survival on highest levels. Most of all, Aurora Harris’ poetry reminds readers that, no matter where life takes us, we all belong to one another. I highly recommend this literary gift.

Aurora Harris October 2011 Booksignings at Broadside Press and Source Books

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to everyone that attended the Broadside Press September 29th book signing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.  We had a wonderful presentation of Idlewild, MI photos, Dr. Gloria House read from "Home Sweet Sanctuary," the new oral history book of Idlewild, MI residents; and I read from my new book of poetry. Dr. House was accompanied by a cellist and I was accompanied by members of the In The Tradition band. We also had a Meet and Greet reception.

Our event was called: Celebrating 46 Years of Literature & Literacy with Detroit's Historic Broadside Press.

If you missed my opening book signing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, I will be reading from my new book of poetry "Solitude of Five Black Moons" on Sunday, October 16, 2011at the Broadside Press Poets' Theater, 3:00 p.m.  I will be the featured reader with a book signing and open mic to follow. The Broadside Press Poets' Theater will be held in the Grounds Coffee House which is located on the lower level of the Student Union, near the Livernois entrance to the campus. 

On Thursday, October 20th, I will be having another book signing at Source Books at 6:00 p.m. The bookstore is located on the corner of Cass and Willis, inside the Spiral Collective bldg. (The former Cobbs Corner), same block as Avalon Bakery.

Hope to see you there.

Aurora

Education, Ethnic Studies: Latinos in the U.S.: the assault on Chicana/o studies

Please see the article below regarding what is happening with Ethnic Studies in the U.S.

Latinos in the U.S.: the assault on Chicana/o studies

Detroit Public Schools Special Olympics Update

I have just confirmed with a Special Olympics worker that the Detroit Public Schools will retain it's Special Olympics program.

The PDF information below concerns transition services for special needs adults age 20-26 in the State of Michigan and a link to a blog for developmentally disabled persons. Copy and paste links into a search engine to see or download the info:


http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/Spring_11_352310_7.pdf

https://www.oaisd.org/downloads/_acct_/00/00/01/59/maase_concept_paper_20110217_103950_8.pdf

http://theddnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/michigan-special-education-for-students.html