The Guild is grateful for the opportunity to support a new BIPOC-centered workshop group hosted by CVWG board member Yia Lor. Our hope is that this writing group will, as Yia puts it, “allow BIPOC writers to gather, share, and grow in a space that centers itself around lifting diverse voices.” Please see below for Yia’s complete message! And thank you to all future members for taking part!
A New Group For BIPOC Writers
Yia Lor
Writing can be a lonely endeavor, but we are truly in tremendous company here in the Valley. The support I have received from other fellow writers is immeasurable, and the many workshops and events offered through the Guild have greatly enriched my writing.
As I continue on this journey though, I often wonder where all the other writers are who share stories about girls who speak English at school but swear in Hmong at home, girls whose classmates make fun of their hair because of the texture, and girls whose friends pull at their eyes and ask why their faces are so flat. I certainly don't want to believe I am the only Hmong writer with these experiences.
“My hope is this workshop group will allow BIPOC writers to gather, share, and grow in a space that centers itself around lifting diverse voices.”
My hope is this workshop group will allow BIPOC writers to gather, share, and grow in a space that centers itself around lifting diverse voices. I look forward to conversations about character development and mind-blowing plot twists, and I’m especially excited to trade stories about grandfathers who grew peaches to remember a home left behind and mothers who packed rice with pork and mustard greens for school lunches.
Mark your calendars for our first meeting, which will be held Thursday, August 20th from 7-8:30pm. We will meet virtually on Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/ifz-ghyx-nfy). You will need a Google account to join. This first meeting will focus on getting to know each other and how we want to structure our time together.
For more information, drop the CVWG a note by way of Facebook message or email: chippewavalleywritersguild@gmail.com.