Mindful Poetry Returns with Community Led Gatherings

Over the last several years the Mindful Poetry community has grown and deepened through our virtual gatherings and published collections. We are delighted to return to our monthly virtual gatherings with poems chosen by members of our MPM community. The format is simple. We meditate, consider a single poem, receive a prompt and write, then share.

Mindful Poetry Moments, a collaboration incubated by The On Being Project and now supported by The Well and partners The Hive, The Mercantile Library, and WordPlay, offers a chance to pause and reflect on poetry’s ability to encounter ourselves, the world, and the mystery of each other.

October 26th, 3pm ET
Poem: "Your Name Brushes By" by Reena Ribalow
Facilitation: Bî-Mia C Reid
Meditation: Rana Dotson

November 30th, 3pm ET
Poem: "Under One Small Star" by Wislawa Szymborska
Facilitation: Scott Holzman
Meditation: Troy Bronsink

January 25th, 3pm ET
Poem" "School Prayer" by Diane Ackerman
Facilitation: Barbara Schwartzbach
Meditation: Rowe Schnure

February 22nd, 3pm ET
Poems: "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson and "We are of a tribe" by Alberto Rios
Facilitation: Katie Rouse and Emily Little
Meditation: Stacy Sims

Facilitator Bios

Bî-Mia C Reid is a poet, spoken word performer, and artist who has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She has published works in several literary magazines including Bravura and Mindful Poetry Moments. Her most recent artistic and literary works were created for San Diego Pride and Oceanside, California’s Pride By The Beach celebrations. She is most often found posting haiku on Twitter, studying historically maligned female deities, and fashioning rainbows with paint, and words on pink printer paper. She lives in Southern California with her daughter, their books and their artwork.

Rana Dotson has worked for over 20 years on labor and human rights, public policy, and international development. She is a senior international affairs officer at the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), working to fight labor exploitation around the world. Rana is a co-founder and lead organizer for the international human rights collective Border of Lights. She is a fellow with the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), and National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship. She lives in the DC metro with her family.

Scott Holzman is a poet, conceptual artist, and facilitator. He is the former director of Chase Public, a space for empathy and creative practice. He lives in Camp Washington, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Troy Bronsink is a healer and learner, holding brave spaces for inner and outer transformation. Troy coaches individuals and consults with organizations and groups in leadership, belonging, and mindfulness. His love of words, people, and presence keeps drawing him into the circle of facilitators for Mindful Poetry Moments. Troy is founder emeritus of The Hive: A Center for Contemplation, Art, and Action. To connect with his latest writings or to explore working with Troy, visit his website.

Barbara Schwartzbach is an outdoor educator, master gardener, and a naturalist educator for early childhood, elementary, special needs individuals. Barbara is also a life long learner, a reader and a lover of poetry.

Rowe Schnure is a conceptual weaver, facilitator and community arts organizer living and working in Cincinnati, OH. They are a recent participant of Women Writing for (a) Change's Conscious Feminine Leadership Academy.

Katie Rouse (she/her) is a marketing manager, copywriter, and author of the poetry collection, Psalms of Deconstruction. She mostly posts on Instagram, @katie.rose.rouse, writing on faith, doubt, and deconstruction. She also loves sending out weekly poetry to email subscribers, occasionally writing blog posts at katierousewrites.com, and is working on her first memoir, on deconstructing her faith while serving as a missionary in India.

Emily Little is a mother, activist, and nurse who loves untangling the beauty and tragedy of the world around her through writing poetry. Her heart was raised in Maine and now she is growing in Charlottesville with her three kids, one husband and one cat. 

Stacy Sims is a mind-body educator and author. In addition to founding the programs of The Well, Sims is a novelist, playwright, and children's books author. She has produced multiple theatrical works as part of her social practice of gathering stories out of community engagement.