Our Voices, Our Visions Means You
By: Joanna Brooks
Two years ago, I dreamed of taking a giant Mormon feminist roadtrip: connecting with Mormon women readers and writers throughout the great Book of Mormon Belt. I dreamed of meeting and hanging out with women just like you, dear FMHer, to explore what it will mean to be a Mormon woman in the 21st century.
And now the Our Voices, Our Visions Mormon Women’s Literary Tour is just two weeks away.
Five university campuses across the Book-of-Mormon belt in six days: Claremont, ASU, SUU, UVU, and the U.
A dozen Mormon women writers–most of whom I’ve never met before, but whom I’ve fallen in love with during the months of planning the tour. Women like prizewinning poet Danielle Dubrasky, essayist Holly Welker, and Segullah founder Kathryn Lynard Soper. Women like Susan Scott, a Community of Christ (RLDS) woman from Canada.
Will you add your voice, your vision to our conversation? Come hang out when the tour hits your town: Claremont (3/22), Mesa/Phoenix/Tempe (3/23), Cedar City (3/25), Provo / Orem (3/26), and SLC (3/27).
Complete tour schedule and writer bios are here: mormonwomenwriters.blogspot.com. Questions? Contact askmormongirl@gmail.com.
This week, I’m getting my (non-recalled) Prius tuned up and dreaming of meeting friendly FMH faces across the southwest. Can you join us? And would you be willing to feed a traveling Mormon woman writer when the tour hits your town?
Hey! Danielle Dubrasky was a professor of mine when I went to SUU. Some of my best poems came form being in her classes. How awesome that you will be meeting with her! I wish I could be there!
Comment by AmazonaWomona — March 9, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
This sounds so much cooler than time out for women. Wish I lived a bit closer. Is anybody planning on blogging this for those of us outside the BOM belt?
Comment by kristine N — March 9, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
I’m totally attending the Claremont version. I’ll be sure and take careful notes.
Comment by Reese Dixon — March 9, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
I’m planning to go to either the Orem or SLC event. Not sure yet whether it will be easier to find a daytime babysitter for my preschoolers or to ditch my husband on his birthday.
Comment by Shelah — March 9, 2010 @ 3:19 pm
And btw, after listening to your podcast with John Dehlin, I have a little bit of a crush on you. If you see a blonde girl giving you googoo eyes while you’re in Utah, that would be me.
Comment by Shelah — March 9, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
So that’s why my poetry class is canceled on the 25th.
Comment by alexandra — March 9, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
Sounds awesome…is there a list of topics that the talks are going to be on?
Comment by Olive — March 9, 2010 @ 4:18 pm
Oh, drat! It’s too bad I moved away from Arizona a couple of years ago, or I’d love to go.
Comment by Ziff — March 9, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
Joanna, not to derail your thread, but you should be aware that an incident happened here in SoCal this morning in which a non-recalled Prius (Prius recalls were for a braking issue, I believe) experienced the uncontrolled acceleration issue that caused the recall in other Toyota brands last month. The man was finally able to stop the car with the help of a CHP officer who had him stand on both the brake and emergency brake simultaneously, and who may have moved his car in front of the other car to help slow it down (the story I saw wasn’t clear on that detail), but the car had accelerated to speeds over 90 MPH before the man was able to get help in stopping it.
Be careful. Again. Sorry for the derail.
Comment by Lorian — March 9, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
I’m totally coming to the Cedar City one. I’m hoping to drag my sister along with me, too. It shouldn’t be too hard :).
Comment by Ella Menno — March 9, 2010 @ 7:41 pm
I wish I was closer (I’m in Northern CA), it sounds wonderful! FMH gets road trip updates right?
Comment by Ayla Serenemoon — March 9, 2010 @ 8:14 pm
why is wyoming always left out? i’d totally put you up!
Comment by crazywomancreek — March 9, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
So not fair…why just the jello belt? How about New England?
Comment by Kimberly — March 9, 2010 @ 8:55 pm
I think I might go to the Orem one. It says “open to the public” on the site, but universities sometimes exclude children from “public.” Would a quiet, calm 23 month old be allowed? She is seriously the most mild child on the planet and I would take her out of the room if she got disruptive.
Comment by TopHat — March 9, 2010 @ 10:47 pm
TopHat–I’ve taken my baby to events at UVU before and no one said a thing (except the college students who admired her cuteness). You could call UVU’s info line and ask.
Comment by Day — March 9, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
Man! I would come to Claremont which is not too far from me but for some crazy reason I’ll be in Utah that day! Weird. This sounds great- wish I could be there!
Comment by Merkat — March 10, 2010 @ 12:41 am
TopHat, UVU is my 23 month old son’s playground. I’m positive she would be welcome. Heck, if I can’t find a sitter for the day they might end up playmates.
Comment by Alyssa — March 10, 2010 @ 10:38 am
I’ll catch you in Claremont!
Comment by Carrie — March 10, 2010 @ 11:15 am
hey I just realized I’ll be in SLC on the 27th, so I can be there!
And we need to do a snacker too!
Comment by fMhLisa — March 10, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
What about us on the East Coast? Those of us in the Bible Belt, Those in the Cradle of the Book Mormon Land, Who will organize for us?
Comment by GatoraideMomma — March 10, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
I will try to come to the UVU one.
Comment by motion de smiths — March 10, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
Someone please blog it for those of us outside the belt, okay?
Comment by Tatiana — March 10, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
fMh-ers,
With all my heart, and because of my admiration for the esprit of this amazing group, I urge any of you who can possibly manage it to attend one of Joanna’s campus gatherings. Make it happen somehow, and you will never regret it. Joanna Brooks is a tonic for mind, heart and spirit. I was fortunate enough to be around in her greening years at BYU; the memory of her fruitful talent and brilliance, even at 20, is indelible. This event will be one for the books! I’m already envious of every one of you who will be able to attend.
Comment by CroneUp — March 11, 2010 @ 9:40 am
Can you come to New York City?!
Comment by nibs — March 12, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
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