Warm wishes for the holiday season and Happy New Year!
Voices From War has had another exciting and full year. As we welcome in 2019, we want to share a few highlights from 2018!
We had a full year of writing workshops for veterans and family members, with offerings in Manhattan and the Bronx. Thank you to the 14th Street Y (11 seasons of workshops!) and the Morris Park (NYPL) Public Library (6 seasons!). Additionally, we had a landmark year of public events – participating in or holding FOUR PUBLIC READINGS this year! Every single one available free to the public, and sharing original writing from our workshop participants.
To all of our Voices From War supporters Thank you! and, if you’re able, please consider making an end-of-year donation, as we head into 2019!
THANK YOU to each of our 2018 Participants and our Readers, Instructors, Audiences & Hosts!
FEBRUARY – DECEMBER 2018
Writing & Reading War Stories in the 21st Century – we’ve entered our sixth year of workshops! * Seasons 10 & 11 at our fantastic downtown Manhattan host, the 14th Street Y. * Our thanks to Nina Semczuk, a dedicated Teaching Associate and then co-Instructor for several seasons. * With Nina’s departure, we were fortunate to be joined by Siobhan Adcock, talented author and also a veteran family member, with her second novel just out in 2018. * Thank you to our Manhattan co-instructors Scott Reel and Siobhan Adcock. All INSTRUCTOR BIOs can be found on the website’s Instructors’ page.
The Craft of War Writing in the Bronx * Seasons 5 & 6 at the wonderful NYPL – Morris Park Public Library. * A huge thank you to Jeremy Warneke (6 seasons!) and co-Instructor John LoSasso. * And we were thrilled to present our first Bronx Reading – see more below!
May 15, 2018 – Poets & Writers – 9th Annual Connecting Cultures Reading   Â
It was an honor to share the stage with other Poets & Writers’ supported workshops at the 9th Annual Connecting Cultures Reading, presented by Poets & Writers and hosted by the Center for Book Arts.
June 3, 2018 – Veteran Mosaic – Voices From War Summer Reading
Voices From War returned to the 14th Street Y Theater where we were thrilled to present writing from 8 workshop participants (Manhattan & the Bronx).  Â
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November 10, 2018 – Voices From War at Lewis Latimer House Museum (Reading in Queens)
What a powerful way to honor and celebrate Veterans Day Weekend. Six of our Voices From War participants (from our 14th Street Y workshop and the Craft of War Writing in the Bronx) shared their work at the historic Latimer House Museum in Queens, home to African-American inventor and Union Army Civil War veteran, Lewis H. Latimer. If you haven’t had a chance to visit the museum, put it on your calendar for 2019.  Â
December 8, 2018 – The Craft of War Writing – Voices in the Bronx – Voices From War Winter Reading
We celebrated an amazing year of workshops and events with our first Reading in the Bronx at the Morris Park Library, host to the Craft of War Writing since our first season at the NYPL in Spring 2016. This warm and welcoming Reading featured 7 of our participants (Bronx and Manhattan) and brought our diverse audience together to hear original writing followed by delicious contributions from local vendors. Thank you to Morris Park Library and our #Bronx community!   Â
Public readings are a deeply meaningful experience for readers and audience alike. If you couldn’t catch one of our events in 2018, we hope to see you in 2019! Stay tuned for upcoming events. And, of course, if you are a veteran (or family member) please consider one of our workshops this year — and please share with others who might be interested! Registration opens in January.
Additional 2018 community events & news highlights included…
April 27, 2018 – Hunter College Conference – “Moral Transformation and War”
Thank you to Hunter College and Professor Christa Acampora for including Voices From War in this engaging group of presentations. Voices From War director Kara Krauze presented with writer (and previous participant) Teresa Fazio. Voices From War: Â Bridging Divides: Writing a Kaleidoscope of Experience
June 8, 2018 – Vassar’s Veterans Posse Program
Kara was fortunate to attend this panel event offering a chance to hear from current Veterans Posse Program participants – veterans attending Vassar College supported by additional #community through the Posse Program. Also pleased to soon after reconnect with Voices From War alum and Veterans Posse Program participant Gino Ruiz.
June 2018 – Visiting artist, Zinaida
We were pleased to welcome Ukrainian artist Zinaida and her colleague as guests to our June Reading, and to visit her exhibit and learn more about Zinaida’s work with Ukrainian veterans and art. Zinaida exhibited her powerful work at White Box gallery in NYC and brought her art workshop, ArtRehub, to the VA during her visit.
June 20, 2018 – incoming Co-Instructor, Siobhan Adcock – Book Launch
Voices From War instructor, Siobhan Adcock, celebrated the launch of her second novel, The Completionist, at the PowerHouse Arena in Brooklyn. We are thrilled to have Siobhan Adcock continuing with co-Instructor Scott Reel for our upcoming Season 12 at the 14th Street Y!
                       
            
September 5, 2018 – Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) Community Arts Breakfast
Hosted by Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling (in Hamilton Heights) and featuring inspiring stories from other community arts organizations. Voices From War was honored to be a speaker in 2017 and once again excited and inspired to attend this year’s gathering.
        
September 13, 2018 – The Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards
Voices From War is honored to receive grant support from the Rona Jaffe Foundation (RJF). The RJF Awards event in September featured guest speaker Tayari Jones and honored 6 new emerging women writers. Amazing work!  Â
          
  
November 30, 2018 – Intrepid After Hours – Voices From War at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
It was great to return to the Intrepid for another Voices From War workshop offered as Intrepid After Hours programming. Instructors Jeremy Warneke and Kara Krauze met a wonderful group of participants.  Â
December 3, 2018 – Voices From War – The Craft of War Writing featured on BronxNet TV
Thank you to three of our instructors, Jeremy Warneke and John LoSasso (The Craft of War Writing – Bronx) and Siobhan Adcock (14th Street Y – Manhattan), for their appearance on BronxNet TV show “Open” to share about our workshops and our Dec. 8th Reading in the Bronx. Missed the show? You can still catch it (about 13 minutes in) on the BronxNet website.
We are deeply grateful, as ever, to our multi-year grant support from Amazon Literary Partnership, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Poets & Writers (Readings & Workshops Program), and the Rona Jaffe Foundation. Our collaboration in the Bronx has also benefited from additional support from the Bronx Council on the Arts.
And all of our workshops and programming also continue to rely on YOU, our individual contributors and all of our supporters, veteran, military family, and civilians alike. THANK YOU to our community! Your support for veterans and diverse voices matters!
#MoreVoices
Here is to a rewarding 2019!
Stay tuned and stop by the website for more updates, upcoming 2019 REGISTRATION and MORE! And save the date for our next Open House: Sunday, FEBRUARY 17, 4:00-5:30 pm.
As always, each of you continue to make Voices From War’s successes and ongoing growth possible — through your participation, whether as attendee, audience member, supporter, volunteer, engaged community members and contributors!
Thank you! We hope you will continue to follow our progress in 2019, participate in our workshops and attend our events! And please consider making an end-of-year contribution. ALL donations help support our ongoing success, showing our community-based support and community engagement! Whether you can give $20 or $200, or somewhere in between, your support helps us grow and strive!
Here’s to a rewarding and healthy New Year, rich with community and more stories!   #MoreVoices
To make a tax-deductible donation, visit our fiscal sponsorship page on Fractured Atlas…or click-through via our website.
  Browse the website for more photos!
Warmest wishes!
With thanks,
Kara
Kara Krauze
Founder, Director
Voices From War
Writing Workshops for Veterans
VoicesFromWar.org
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Voices From War 