poetry, etc. - November 2009 from Rhonda Welsh

"I'm grateful to share stages with some of Detroit's most beautiful (inside and out) poets" (l - r Cheri L.R. Taylor, Ber-henda Williams and Tc Nicole) be grateful Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching. Why are you grateful? Do you appreciate family, friends, opportunities, dreams? Or are you at the end of your rope and finding it difficult to go on another day? Media reports tell us the economy is getting better. Those impacted by foreclosure, job loss, and stalled hopes may tell a different story. If that's you, the last thing you may want to read is an email from a "Pollyanna poet" encouraging you to hold on and be grateful. But, I can't help myself. If you can read this message, you have something to be grateful for. Two things... You can read and you can see. I encourage you to count your blessings. I know. I know! Positive talk and happy thoughts won't put food on your table. Or will they? If you hold on, maybe you'll eek out that last little bit of confidence you need. Maybe, today your change will come. It won't hurt to try. In the meantime, I encourage you to be grateful. Make this your best Thanksgiving Holiday ever! w/Dimonique Boyd and Saleem Ameer Hakim at EbonyLotus presents Personal insideout literary arts project For over a year, I have been a proud writer-in-residence with the InsideOut Literary Arts Project. This program provides extraordinary services to Detroit-area youth. But, recently the nation took notice! See the gorgeous photo below: l - r Dr. Terry Blackhawk, Lena Cintron, First Lady Michelle Obama Citywide Poet Myriha Burton and 2009 Citywide Poets alumna Lena Cintrón accompanied InsideOut Founder Dr. Terry Blackhawk to the White House where she accepted an award on November 4. Lena Cintrón received a standing ovation for her award-winning poem at an evening reception for Coming Up Taller awardees. Visit the InsideOut website to find out how you can support this great program! this is it Recently, I reviewed the documentaryThis Is It for my Examiner.com column. Here's a brief excerpt of the article: "...it's Michael Jackson. We expect to see good dancing, hear great singing and experience dazzling production. He is casually styled throughout most of the film and while not quite barefaced -- virtually. His face and hands exhibit that pearlescent, pale pink that appears to be a trademark of vitiligo. What is disarming about the film is Michael Jackson's sheer, undeniable beauty." READ MORE HERE upcoming appearances Visit www.rhondawelsh.com for the most up-to-date information about appearances. Tuesday, November 12 @ 7 PM Troubadour 21 Open Mic A.J.'s Music Cafe 240 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI Saturday, December 5 @ 5:30 PM 37th Annual Noel Night Detroit Association of Women's Clubs 5461 Brush St. @ Ferry St., Detroit, MI Tuesday, January 26 @ 5:30 PM Lit Out Loud Reading Series Oakland County Community College, Auburn Hills, MI Friday, February 12 @ 7 PM InsideOut Reading Series Detroit Artists' Market 4719 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI www.rhondawelsh.com Visit www.rhondawelsh.com for news, information and appearance schedules.