The Vision

On January 15, 2010, In the Words of Womyn began as a workshop created to facilitate a space where womyn can: explore her identity as a writer; experience and practice various styles of writing; share her own works from rough drafts to polished pieces; hear and learn about published womyn writers; and experience a safe, inspiring, and nurturing environment to grow and develop as a woman, a writer, and an individual.

In the Words of Womyn empowers womyn to give sound to our story and volume to our voice by promoting the art of expression through words–both written and spoken. Through the sharing of poems and stories, In the Words of Womyn strives to create a comfortable atmosphere for positive critique, development, and enrichment of skills as well as a space to foster creativity, inspiration, and community.

This vision originally came out of my experience of participating in the weekly Open Mic at Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural.  Over the months since first going to this open mic, I found that more often than not, there were few womyn who stepped up to the mic to recite a piece of poetry, to share a story, or to perform spoken word.  On numerous occasions womyn would speak with me afterward, sharing that they too were writers but had never shared out loud and were–quite frankly–terrified at the thought of sharing something so intimate as poetry, out loud…in front of other people!

I can absolutely empathize with these feelings for I had the very same thoughts and feelings years ago before performing at my first open mic hosted by the Sun Poets Society in San Antonio, TX.  As I thought about how many womyn approached me week after week telling me about how they write but have no safe place to share, I got the idea to create a workshop for womyn to not only practice and improve writing skills, but to also build courage and confidence in performing and sharing pieces out loud.

So it is out of such an idea that came a workshop, and out of such a workshop that came a website!  I’d like to think of this space as a virtual open mic, so please check out this page for information on how to submit a piece of your own work to be published here in this space.  I’m very excited about this project and I can’t wait to share with you each facet of my vision as it unfolds

Write on, womyn!

Professionally, I work with children & youth to foster personal growth and healing among individuals and families. Poetically, I write as much as I can and share at open mic venues around Los Angeles (and usually in any other city I happen to visit); my “home base” is Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural.  Passionately, I strive to bring transformation, healing, and hope to individuals and communities through relationships and by sharing my vision, my poetry, my laughter, my pain, my humor, my love, and my ridiculously delicious culinary creations!
I am a poet and a visionary.
I am feisty and resilient.
I am and ever striving to be, Jenuine.