Name: Megan Minutillo
What’s your current project: thewriteteachers.com (ongoing), The Ugly Christmas Sweater Soiree, LOVE SONGS for VDay, DUETS with The Write Teacher(s), H…
Why and how are you involved? I’m the founder of the website, I’m the producer/director of the three concerts, and I wrote H.
Website/Facebook/Twitter Handle: www.meganminutillo.com, no public Facebook page, but I’m on as Megan Minutillo, twitter + instagram @MeganMinutillo.
Name: Joan Becht Willette
What’s your current project: “The Enchanted Goddess: Literary Creative Arts Series” is my dream project come true! I believe that women are born creators and that we transform our lives in creative community. There is a monthly “The Enchanted Goddess Writing Workshop” for new and emerging writers. This is where we gather and break bread, share life experiences and write in community. Also, there is a monthly “The Enchanted Goddess Reading Series,” where we meet at The Astoria Bookshop and read an inspirational book together and have lively transformational discussions.
Currently I am working on a collection of poetry and prose entitled “Soul Retrieval.” I just finished a QAI funded project by RPGA Studios titled, “The Poet Is In.” This was a community based project in Socrates Park, where I created personalized ” Poetry Portraits” on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I was just featured as a “Literary Artist” in the debut web TV series “ArtistSpace” produced by Empyre Media Productions. Currently, I am being featured in a QPTV Artist Interview show – airing in December 2015.
It has been exciting to have several pieces of my work published in various journals this year! I couldn’t have done all this, without my amazing supportive creative Queens Artists Community!
Going to weekly Open Mic’s helps hone my craft. Upcoming features: December 2015: “Women’s Poetry Showcase” at Inspired Word, January 2016: “Nature of the Muse at LIC Bar and February 2016: “Boundless Tales” at Astoria Bookshop.
Why and How You Are Involved: “Creativity is the portal to transformation!” Women are overworked, overcommitted and overwhelmed in their everyday lives. I am a Baby Boomer and sexism ran rampant for decades in my life. I am “A New Age Feminist,” Women were conditioned to put everybody’s needs first at home, in the workplace and in our communities. Creativity is the life force that fills our wells. Women naturally gather and support one another, and it has been my dream to combine women collaborating and creating together in a relaxed and creative venue. “The Enchanted Goddess: Literary Creative Arts Series” provides a space for women to have creative discourse and create the life they have always dreamed of! Writing is a voyage of self discovery and Reading unlocks secret chambers of the soul. This is where the “alchemy of transformation” happens! I know this for sure. It has happened in my life and I want to share creative adventures with the women in my community and beyond!
Website: JoanBechtWillette.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theliterarygoddess or search by:The Enchaned Goddess: Literary Creative Arts Series.
Twitter: JoanofAstoria
Name: Jennifer Ho-Dougatz
Current Project: Big Girl Panties
Why/ How I am involved: Host and Producer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bgppodcast
Website: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/pk/podcast/big-girl-panties/id986646191?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/big-girl-panties
Name: Audrey Dimola
What’s your current project: spreading positivity and power through guerrilla poetry stickers and handwritten/handmade street art
Why and how are you involved:
i feel that part of my duty on this earth is to be a messenger- to remind people of their own limitlessness and the power of words. aside from more traditional performances and self-published books, i’m basically finding every way i can to put those positive messages out into the world in unexpected places- chalk graffiti, guerrilla poetry stickers, handmade/handpainted signs tied up or velcro’d around the city. the compass project is actually migrating across the globe thanks to friends and fans of the stickers! some of my biggest messages are: STAY WILD, STAY GRATEFUL; IDENTIFY WITH THE INFINITE; THE MAGIC ONLY STOPS WHEN YOU SAY SO; and of course, very important to this mission- CREATE WHAT YOU WISH TO EXPERIENCE. bomb positive! change the landscape. if we don’t do it, who will?
Website/FB/Twitter handle:
Name: Padraic Lillis
What’s your current project: The American Soldier a solo show by Douglas Taurel running Nov. 18th – 22nd at the Midtown International Theater Festival
Why and how are you involved? I directed the play. Douglas put together this incredibly project exploring PTSD of soldier and family members of soldiers from letters and interviews from each of the wars in our country’s history. The show had an excellent run in Edinburgh Festival and we look forward to continuing to present the work. His shaping of the piece and his acting is really impactful.
Website/Facebook:
Name: Jason Lasky
Current Project: Mend the Envelope at the Midtown International Theater Festival; Dates are Nov. 12, 14, 15
Why/ How I am involved: Playwright/Producer
Website & Twitter:
Name: Gloria Jittansingh
What’s your current project: The celebration of the Hindu holiday, Diwali.
Why and how are you involved? Diwali is the Festival of Lights and a very important day of spiritual celebration for Hindus across the world. I am celebrating it here in Trinidad. Each year we fast the day before and the day after, clean my home and light diyas. All faiths celebrate this holiday as it is a very holy day – a time for reflection and time with the family.
Name: Patrice Miller
What’s your current project: Poetry Electric’s Mother Tongue at La MaMa
Why and how are you involved? La MaMa has always opened its doors to me and invited me to challenge myself as an audience member and artist. I’m overjoyed to be a featured poet/performer at Poetry Electric.
Facebook/Twitter Handle:
Name: Josh Rivedal
What’s your current project: An inspirational and motivational book of 50 true, short stories: The i’Mpossible Project: Reengaging With Life, Creating a New You. It has been described as a “Chicken Soup for the Soul for the new millennium”
Why and how are you involved? I am the curator and editor of the book. I have been telling my story via a one-man show for almost five years (Kicking My Blue Genes in the Butt) and it has helped more than 15000 get clarity and reframe their thinking around suicide, mental health issues, and obstacles in general.
Storytelling is one of our oldest traditions—yes, even older than the hokey pokey. Stories can make us laugh or cry… or both at the same time. They can teach, inspire and even ignite an entire movement.
The stories in The i’Mpossible Project are gritty, deep, heartwarming—and guaranteed to help you discover new possibilities in your life.
These stories are all about overcoming obstacles, reengaging with life, and creating new possibilities—a son’s homicide, a transgender man finding love, coming back from the brink of suicide, finding your funny in the face of overwhelming odds, and more…
Website/Facebook/Twitter Handle:
Name: Jerry Rago
What’s your current project: Who’ll Save The Plowboy
Why and how are you involved? Love the Play…Playing Albert Cobb…Executive Producer
Website/Facebook:
Malini Singh mcdonald 