Phuong's Writing/VONA Dreams
Donation protected
We are whole worlds of stories-- knowledge and experiences. What if those experiences were lost to our society because they and their speakers were deemed worthless, liars, or crazy? This is what happens to writers of color. When we raise race, class, and other issues in our poems or stories, those in positions of authority-- often in white spaces, often supported by our peers, and a broader culture-- slam our work for not being real literature.
Because of ideas we have internalized, many of us don't even make it to the page or into the writing class. This almost happened to me. Growing up an a Vietnamese immigrant family meant thinking practically, meant putting food on the table, meant striving for stability. And poetry doesn't offer any of that. Furthermore, being female in my family meant closing my mouth. Somehow, the words still found their way out.
I have been journaling and writing since I was young, hoarding notebooks in secret and yet never thinking my words were good enough. It wasn't until 5 years ago that I began to explore and embrace myself as a writer. Little by little, I began to transfer freewrites onto the computer to revise them. I started to share my work with friends, on my blog, and eventually on stage. I designed, printed, and bound my own chapbook of poetry and prose in 2012. In the last few years, I participated in longer workshops and classes, such as ones led by Aimee Suzara, Sharon Bridgforth, and Evelina Galang.
With your financial support, I'll take a huge leap in this journey. I have been accepted into a poetry workshop with poet Ruth Forman, at Voices of our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA/Voices). I'll be spending one week at the University of Miami participating in writing workshops, attending readings, and building community with other writers or color. Donating and helping me to attend VONA this year means helping a woman of color writer create more space in her writing life. It means making space for my stories and women's stories. It means opening doors to a more diverse and democratic world. I can't wait to step further into it, and I hope that you support me in this journey.
Why $2,200:
VONA/Voices Tuition: $800
Room and Board: $650
Round-trip from Bay Area to Miami: $1000
Airport shuttle: $150
- $400 (financial aid scholarship)
=$2,200
Did I mention I grew up in an immigrant family? You already know your dollar will be stretched.
More on who I am, through my writing, my thoughts:
Wordpress
Tumblr
What is VONA/Voices:
VONA/Voices website
Why VONA/Voices and supporting spaces for writers of color is so important:
Vanessa Mártir's article in HuffPost
Junot Díaz's article in The New Yorker
If we don't tell our stories, who will?
Because of ideas we have internalized, many of us don't even make it to the page or into the writing class. This almost happened to me. Growing up an a Vietnamese immigrant family meant thinking practically, meant putting food on the table, meant striving for stability. And poetry doesn't offer any of that. Furthermore, being female in my family meant closing my mouth. Somehow, the words still found their way out.
I have been journaling and writing since I was young, hoarding notebooks in secret and yet never thinking my words were good enough. It wasn't until 5 years ago that I began to explore and embrace myself as a writer. Little by little, I began to transfer freewrites onto the computer to revise them. I started to share my work with friends, on my blog, and eventually on stage. I designed, printed, and bound my own chapbook of poetry and prose in 2012. In the last few years, I participated in longer workshops and classes, such as ones led by Aimee Suzara, Sharon Bridgforth, and Evelina Galang.
With your financial support, I'll take a huge leap in this journey. I have been accepted into a poetry workshop with poet Ruth Forman, at Voices of our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA/Voices). I'll be spending one week at the University of Miami participating in writing workshops, attending readings, and building community with other writers or color. Donating and helping me to attend VONA this year means helping a woman of color writer create more space in her writing life. It means making space for my stories and women's stories. It means opening doors to a more diverse and democratic world. I can't wait to step further into it, and I hope that you support me in this journey.
Why $2,200:
VONA/Voices Tuition: $800
Room and Board: $650
Round-trip from Bay Area to Miami: $1000
Airport shuttle: $150
- $400 (financial aid scholarship)
=$2,200
Did I mention I grew up in an immigrant family? You already know your dollar will be stretched.
More on who I am, through my writing, my thoughts:
Wordpress
Tumblr
What is VONA/Voices:
VONA/Voices website
Why VONA/Voices and supporting spaces for writers of color is so important:
Vanessa Mártir's article in HuffPost
Junot Díaz's article in The New Yorker
If we don't tell our stories, who will?
Organizer
Phuong Thao Vuong
Organizer
Oakland, CA
