Dover, DE
Event: Visions of My
Neighborhood, September 24, 2011 Delaware Regional Writers Conference, Wesley College, 120 N. State St., Dover, DE, 19901; and Nov. 19, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, 211 Silver Lake Road, Middletown, DE 19709
Facilitator: JoAnn Balingit, jbaling@UDel.Edu
Summary: Visions of My Neighborhood — Two One City One Prompt community writing events will be held this fall (others TBA) in Delaware. 1) 2011 Delaware Regional Writers Conference, September 24, Wesley College, Dover DE; 2) Parish Life Day, November 19, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, Middletown, DE. JoAnn Balingit is facilitating One City One Prompt events in New Castle County, Delaware on the theme “Visions of My Neighborhood” because she has seen how much people of all ages long to share their thoughts, and how much they enjoy writing and reading together. People are thrilled and surprised when common human bonds come alive through poetic language–in images, memories, chants and stories. Sharing our words creates community and helps us navigate the challenges of being alive. Community writing events can create a safe, fun environment for those who want to write but are shy about giving themselves permission to write.
JoAnn Balingit was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Lakeland, Florida. She taught English language, literature and writing in Morocco, Portugal, Florida and Kentucky before moving to Delaware in 1990, where she worked as a School Library Media Specialist for ten years in the public schools. She holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Delaware. She is the author of two poetry collections, Your Heart and How It Works (Spire Press, 2009); and Forage, winner of the Whitebird Chapbook Prize, to be published by Wings Press as a hand-sewn edition and an ebook this October. Her poems have appeared in journals and anthologies such as Best New Poets, and online at Verse Daily. Appointed Delaware’s poet laureate in 2008, JoAnn teaches poetry in schools and community organizations throughout the state.
