Five Thursday evenings, February 9 and 23, March 8 and 22, April 12    7pm

First Congregational Church, Conference Room, 3rd floor
1128 Pine Street, Boulder
West side of Broadway between Pine and Spruce
Free parking in their lot

Book Conversations: Three Books by Marya Hornbacher

Marya lives in recovery from anorexia, alcoholism and bipolar disorder and has not only survived but thrives. She is now an internationally known author of two memoirs: the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Wasted, which chronicles her years living with anorexia and the New York Times bestselling, Madness, a Bipolar Life. Ms. Hornbacher also has explored the role that spirituality plays in recovery from both mental illness and addiction in her book, Waiting: A Non Believer's Higher Power.

Marya will be in Boulder April 25 - 28 for a series of events on disease and disorder, recovery, spirituality, writing...details to come. In anticipation, there will be five Book Conversations in February, March and April, all moderated by Alan Johnson with others. Carolyn Jennings will join with Alan on February 9 and 23 for the converations about Wasted.

February 9 will focus on Wasted, pp. 1-144. The following meetings will consider portions of the three books.

For more information, contact Alan Johnson at revalan2004@comcast.net
These Book Conversations are free.

Six Fridays February 10 through March 23, 2012     11:30am to 1:30pm
(No meeting February 17)

"a place of our own," Eating Disorder Foundation's Support Center
1901 East 20th Ave., Denver, CO
303.322.3373

Writing Our Wings of Recovery

Writing Our Wings of Recovery provides writing techniques, practice time and nourishing support that will give you tools to deal with the naked truth of your life, relationships and emotions. Using the Journal to the Self® method, I'll help you dispel the lies of disorder, tap into authentic wisdom, and uncover what disrupts and what promotes health and wholeness. Expressive writing opens life-affirming creativity and exposes what will feed the freedom of recovery for you.

$60 for the six-week workshop. To sign up, contact The Eating Disorder Foundation here.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012      6:30 to 8:30pm

Pomegranate Place
750 Clarkson Street, Denver, CO
303.832.2222

Giving Voice to Hunger—An Evening in Two Parts

Part 1: Join poets Karen Douglass and Carolyn Jennings for an evening "meal," a reading to explore many of our appetites, in recognition of both the physical need in our community and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, two facets of hunger in our world.

Please bring a favorite poem about food, hunger, body image or eating disorders by anyone of your choosing to read at open mic. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for Food Bank of the Rockies.

Refreshments will, of course, be served.

Part 2: Mirror Image Arts will preview their original play "Breaking the Silence", a series of vignettes that showcase the various faces of eating disorders. They will be performing two vignettes and will be available for a discussion, along with therapist, Kate Daigle, to help process intense emotions surrounding eating disorders and disordered eating. Eating disorders thrive in silence. Breaking that silence and facing the issues are the best way to fight back.

Saturday March 3, 2012      3:30 to 6:00pm

Alchemy of Movement
2436 30th Street, Boulder, CO
303.449.4410

Dance Your Longing

Experience your longing and your belonging through dance, writing and poetry. Look at half-examined habits and myths about fulfilling this insatiable itch that is simply part of being human.

With dancer Lucy Wallace

Price $35

Sunday March 11, 2012      1 pm

Forza Coffee Company
3013 West 104th Avenue, Westminster, CO

second annual Strong Voices, Strong Women

Local poets reading poems by their favorite female poets. Benefit for Safehouse for battered women and children.

This event will repeat in Boulder at Innisfree Poetry Bookstore on April 8 at 1pm.

$10 suggested donation goes to Safehouse in Westminster.

Sunday, March 18, 2012
2:00 to 4:00pm

Pomegranate Place
750 Clarkson Street, Denver, CO
303.832.2222

Poetry and Story—Where Life Connects: Looking at Gender Equality

A Sunday afternoon to express, be heard, witness, and stretch-and now also to honor the new programming at Pomegranate Place. Bring a poem that speaks to your life. The poem can be your writing or by any poet. In our safe and sacred circle of women, read aloud and tell the related story from your life.

Pomegranate's new focus includes a women's series theme for each month. Gender equality is the March focus. You are invited to find/write/select a poem that touches in any way upon gender equality (or inequality). Interpretation can be broad. What is gender? How does equality work in different-but-equal? What do you see about gender equality in your intimate relationships? In your household? In your workplace? In your family of origin? Within yourself? What does gender equality look, feel, taste and smell like? Explore! See in new ways! Put it in words! Play on the page! Or dig into the collections on your shelves for poets' wisdom. Come share what you write, what you find.

Please note that all poems and all women are invited. If you are burning to share a poem that doesn't fit the focus, you are warmly welcome to come and tell that story.

co-hosts Delta Donohue and Carolyn Jennings

$5 suggested donation for Pomegranate Place

Sunday March 25, 2012    2 to 4pm

Pomegranate Place
750 Clarkson Street, Denver, CO
303.832.2222

Women We Admire: a type of show and tell

Replenish yourself with an afternoon reflecting on women you admire and learning about other women's (s)heroes. Women of substance help us remember and embrace what really matters in our lives.

In celebration of International Women's Month, travel on this writing journey reflecting on women you admire! Gather a list of praise-worthy women. Write about them guided by prompts. Choose a favorite to tell us about. Spend time with Diane Keaton, Katherine Graham, Maya Angelou, Twyla Tharp, Alice Walker, Julia Child, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, your grandmother or aunt or neighborhood activist or best friend...get introduced to more magnificent women...recognize the gifts and depth and breadth of lineage and foundation. See what opens up inside when you slip into bigger shoes left by our foremothers.

Please bring a journal or other writing material. OPTIONAL: you are welcome to bring a list of women you admire and/or a photo, memento, book or any other object to show us as you tell us about one woman who has inspired you.

$20

Monthly, last weekend of the month, beginning March 31, 2012

Alchemy of Movement
2436 30th Street, Boulder, CO
303.449.4410

Stop Bullying Your Body

A weekend afternoon workshop of dance and writing to embody and examine our relationships with our bodies, our food, ourselves. Details forthcoming. Contact Carolyn Jennings. 303.469.3672, cjennings@writingourwings.com

Sunday April 8, 2012      1 pm

Innisfree Poetry Bookstore
1203 13th Street on The Hill in Boulder, CO

second annual Strong Voices, Strong Women

Local poets reading poems by their favorite female poets. Benefit for Safehouse for battered women and children.

$10 suggested donation goes to Safehouse in Boulder.