Watch the August 11, 2024 Salon

Participating Transformative Language Artists

Exodus Oktavia Brownlow ( a Power of Words Keynoter!) is a writer, editor, seamstress and budding beekeeper currently residing in the enchanting pine tree forest of BlackHawk, Ms. Her books include I'm Afraid That I Know Too Much About Myself Now, To Go Back To Who I Knew Before, And Oh Lord, Who Will I Be After I've Known All That I Can,and Look at All The Little Hurts of These Newly-Broken Lives and The Bittersweet, Sweet and Bitter Loves. You may find her, and more of her work at exodusoktaviabrownlow.com.

Inspirational Quote: "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." Zora Neale Hurston

Joy Zimmerman is a touring folk & acoustic roots singer-songwriter cultivating joy and community with a clear, rich voice. A multi-instrumentalist and former social worker, Joy brings audiences hope, humor, and connection. Her newest album, Where the Light Lives, debuted at #6 on the Folk Alliance International (FAI) Folk Chart Top Albums August 2023. Dani Goodband of Lakeside Music says this album “should be in every folk music lover’s collection.” Joy will be doing a keynote performance at the Power of Words conference and presenting a workshop, “What's Going On: Music for Personal & Community Transformation.” Learn more at: joyzimmermanmusic.com.

Inspirational Quote: “If there is one thing that is constant in this world, it is the power of music.” - Josh Groban

Kelly DuMar is a poet, playwright and workshop facilitator from Boston. Her poems and images are published in Bellevue Literary Review, Tupelo Quarterly, Thrush, Glassworks, Flock, One Art, and more. Kelly teaches a variety of creative writing workshops, in person and online, and she teaches Play Labs for the International Women’s Writing Guild and the Transformative Language Arts Network. Kelly will be presenting a workshop at Power of Words, “Writing Monologues for Healing & Transformation: Making the Leap from Page to Stage.” Reach her at kellydumar.com

Inspirational Quote: 

“I want to inherit your way 

Of singing Corn Song, 

Of being still like stone, 

Of weaving, fearless, webs 

Of erotic yes-ness at the gloaming places.”

 —Excerpt from "Grandmother Longing," Amanda Verdery Young

Centa Therese is a poet, interdisciplinary teaching artist, a learning, literacy, creativity and neuroresilience specialist. Her poems have appeared in literary journals nationwide, and she has authored a collection of poems, a memoir, and has a manuscript forthcoming. Learn more at: centatherese.com.

Inspirational quote: “It is noted in the annals of the science of evolution that when reptiles evolved into birds, not only did they become freed from gravity, they also became able to dream. Reptiles do not—but birds dream. Imagine what other leaps in the evolution of consciousness might lay ahead. Might there be an evolution into mercy and awareness, into causeless joy and simple clarity?” —Stephen Levine, Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart

Kathleen Wallace majored in Theater/Communication. She then worked bottom-rung jobs until she worked for the city of San Francisco trying to give homeless and dual-diagnosed a reason to live. Kathleen has been in recovery since 1987 and began writing in 2013 to note what she’s observed of life. A writing life has given her strength, hope, direction and a yen for tomorrow’s insights.

Inspirational Quote: “Make virtue of necessity.” -  Chaucer, A Knight's Tale

Alec Esparza is an altarista and storyteller and has worked for 35 years with families, schools, community partners and the Department of Corrections throughout California. He utilizes the folk arts of storytelling, ofrendas (altar making), creative writing, experiential critical thinking activities and adventure learning. His approach embraces creating sacred space, community building, social transformation, and healing. Alec will be presenting a workshop at Power of Words called Words of Power, Enriching CommUNITY.

Inspirational Quote:"Know where you are going and know how to get there, others may be following."

Watch the April 7, 2024 Salon

Participating Transformative Language Artists

John Swainston: John L. Swainston started writing poetry to cope with feelings of isolation during COVID. He learned the craft by taking Zoom classes in poetry and writing at Turning Point, a support organization. His first published poem was by Journal of Expressive Writing. He is a Member of the Journal of Expressive Writing, Mystic Poet Society, The Writers Place, and The Kansas City Writers Group. He has had over 30 poems published with three awards: a poem in Veterans’ Voices – received Editor’s Choice Award. His first book of poems, Memory Box, was published spring 2022 (johnswainstonpoet.com). A retired Finance Executive, College Adjunct Professor, and Army Veteran.

Sharon Pajka: Sharon Pajka, PhD, is a professor of English at Gallaudet University. She is the author of Women Writers Buried in Virginia (2021) and The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of his family, friends, and foes (2023). On the weekends, find her in the cemetery giving history tours or volunteering, as well as running the Virginia Chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies.

Chad Gurley: A poet and artist, Chad A. Gurley graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School and Harding University living life's questions. Chad began writing and blogging while living in NYC right before 9/11. After witnessing that tragedy and the trauma of violent loss, Chad began writing poetry and short stories to promote peace, hope, and understanding. Chad’s poems have been published in eMerge Magazine, The Epistle, The Columbia Observer, and a book of LGBT Christians' poetry, Sanctified. “The Stoning of Andrew,” his fiction short story, was a nominee for storySouth's 2006 Millions Writers Award.

Oyah! Oyah! Is a Transformative Language Artist, Soothesayer and Inspirational Speaker whose words and rhythmic voice provide an easy road to travel through the difficult stories she tells.

Tanya Lewis: Tanya Lewis loves words and playing with language. She believes authenticity and imagination are superpowers. As a writer, editor, and researcher her professional work has won multiple awards, including two Folio Awards for editorial excellence. Her creative work includes poetry and Moth-style true stories. She also has studied and performed improv in New York City at Improvolution and Magnet Theater, and at BATS Improv in San Francisco. Recently she has been immersed in exploring ways in which poetry and reflections on word meaning can support trauma recovery. She is committed to using creativity to inspire, empower, and uplift. 

Emilee Baum: Emilee is a researcher and writer based in Atlanta, GA. A former chair of the TLA Network, she was introduced to TLA at Goddard College where she completed her MA in Embodiment Studies. She is continuing her studies in Expressive Arts at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Her book The Agency of Bliss was published in 2012.

Autumn Konopka: Autumn Konopka is an award-winning writer, a runner, and a trauma-informed teaching artist. A former poet laureate of Montgomery County, PA (2016), Autumn’s poetry chapbook a chain of paperdolls was published in 2014, and her debut novel Pheidippides Didn’t Die was released in 2023. 

Watch the October 23, 2023 Global Virtual Salon

Participating Transformational Language Artists

Jon Kohl: Jon, Costa Rican/American, has participated in heritage interpretation as a planner, trainer, writer, blogger, tour operator, professor, and theorist but has always seen interpretation as a part of something greater, whether protected area management, community development, or spirituality and wellbeing. He has two books on interpretation and scores of academic, trade, and popular articles. He earned his Masters at Yale University and his undergraduate at Dartmouth College. He lives in Costa Rica. For more information, visit Jon Kohl's ResearchGate profile and follow Jon on LinkedIn.

Robbyn Layne McGill: Robbyn is a freelance writer and transformative teaching artist who helps individuals and organizations embrace their creative power. She is the author of The Magical Art of Kissing Your Muse (an online creative mentorship course) and creator of The Messy, Magical Muse Deck - Illuminate Your Creative Path to Happiness (available December 2023). She lives in Amsterdam with her British love and Dutch cat and works at Kissing the Muse. For more information, visit Robbyn Layne McGill's  website, and follow Robbyn on Facebook. You can also find Robbyn onTwitter.

Angela Pfenninger: Angela is an author and costumed live interpreter living in Speyer, Germany. She works mainly for museums, heritage sites and archives, for whom she devises, writes, directs, and sometimes performs scripts about historical topics and personalities, spanning from the 1500s to the present day. She also teaches courses for interpreters and writes scripts for audio guides and comic books. Her agency also offers English-speaking programmes and courses for heritage institutions abroad. For more information about Angela Pfenninger, visit the Museum Theater website  and follow Angela on LinkedIn.

Jennifer Ramsay: Jennifer is a Scottish storyteller living in Spain. She is a Gestalt therapist specialized in art therapy, ecotherapy, and psychodrama. Jennifer facilitates creative workshops exploring fairy tales with her Story Arte toolbox. She has a degree in Biological Sciences and follows the rhythms of nature and the Celtic wheel of the year. She is the founder of Story Arte, a centre for Creativity and Personal Development. Learn more about Jennifer Ramsay and Story Arte at Storyarte.com. You can also follow Story Arte on Facebook and stay connected with Jennifer and Story Arte on Instagram. 

Yanina Shatvoryan: Yanina is an author and journalist. She was born in Armenia, lived in Moscow, studied in New York, and moved to Spain, where she currently lives. She has published several books, including Micellar Tales: Fairy Tales that Help Women Fight their Fears. She writes personalised therapeutic fairy tales for everyone who wants to add some magic to their real world. For more information visit Yanina Shatvoryan on Instagram.

Centa Therese: Centa Therese is a poet, teaching artist and writer, and trauma-informed learning, literacy, creativity, and neuroresilience specialist. She’s also a photographer, printmaker, and essayist. Her poems have appeared in several literary journals. Her publications include a poetry collection, a lyric memoir, and “Becoming Athena,” a collection of poetic reflections from a writing circle she facilitated in a women’s recovery home. In addition to her own creative work, Centa offers creativity coaching and educational workshops for mental health professionals. Learn more by visiting Centa Therese at her website. and check out Centa's art website.

Watch the June 25, 2023 Salon

Participating Transformative Language Artists

Judy Fort Brenneman: Judy is an award-winning author and playwright, occasional poet, and long-time writing coach with expertise in helping writers who have interesting neurologies. Her short work has appeared in everything from literary magazines to wayside signs and museum exhibits. For more information, visit her website.

Elizabeth Chesla: Elizabeth Chesla's forthcoming debut work of fiction, You Cannot Forbid the Flower (Tolsun Books, August 2023), is based on her father's experience in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Co-founder of an embodied writing group for women, she facilitates writing and yoga workshops, develops humanities content for educational publishers, and serves as an editor for emerging authors. Learn more at her website and follow her on Instagram: @lizchesla.

John L. Swainston started writing poetry to cope with feelings of isolation during COVID. He is a Member of the Mystic Poet Society, The Writers Place, and The Kansas City Writers Group.  He has published widely, including in Veterans’ Voices, where he received Editor’s Choice Award. His first book of poems, Memory Box, was published spring 2022. John is aretired Finance Executive, College Adjunct Professor, and Army Veteran. 

Ronda Miller: Ronda is a poet and Life Coach who specializes in giving voice to trauma. She has five books of published poetry and teaches The Importance of Voice for Trauma Transformation in concert with The Johnson County Ks., Library, School of Trades and Department of Corrections. Follow her on Facebook.

Kierra Perry: Kierra is an administrative professional by day, writer, artist and student by night (depends on the night). Follow her on Instagram: @oddballbizarro.

Oyah Beverly Reed Scott: Oyah is a woman that has known pain intimately and lived to tell the tales through story, poetry and monologue. Follow her on Instagram: @wrytyrwomyn

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