Bi-Monthly By Ryan #9

Dear Friends,

I am still making my way through my process of processing my time at the first annual BIPOC Adoptee Conference. I sent myself a letter in the mail for every day I was away, filled with stickers and other mementos from my time in Portland, OR. I have only opened two so far, and the act has been such a joyful way to revisit my time there, and spend time with myself.

I hosted a third pop-up session of The Adoptee Open Mic before I return next week for my sixth season of my event. My open mic has been through so many iterations for the sake of creating safety for myself and my community, and I have moved the event into being a poetry only event, which is just so exciting for me, as I started the event because I wanted to read and discuss my poetry with Black and Brown adoptees. Last night I found myself doing exactly that, in deeply caring, supportive, and understanding ways.

The second of the two podcasts I recorded have been released, which was Episode #192 of Once Upon A Time…In Adopteeland with Jennifer Dyan Ghoston. I truly enjoyed my conversation with Jennifer. Two friends have already reached out with excitement and notes and thoughts and questions, and I am looking forward to continuing such discussion, when we do!

I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a second run of Letters to Our Homes, which is my letter writing workshop for Black and Brown adoptees only. I am asking for contributions of $250-500, which will support my activism and artistic endeavors, and I love bartering and trading. I am announcing this here first, to my newsletter subscribers, to give you a head start in signing up (!), and will be announcing on my Instagram page @ryanartespoet later this week.

I do believe I have caught up with replying to all of your cheers and messages. If not, please send me a message and I will reply. As always, thank you for your attention.

Love, Ryan <3

linktr.ee/ryanartes