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Mocha Musings, the blog
Thoughts from the bottom of the cup
Here Chief Creative Officer, Maria James-Thiaw, explores the themes of her choreopoems - hot topics like anti-racism, education reform, equality, and hair texture discrimination - while sipping a hot beverage. Each blog post is written in a mom-and-pop coffee shop somewhere in Pennsylvania.
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Let’s Keep In Touch!
Hey, Friends! If you like the work I produce and want to figure out when I’m performing, producing, or publishing something new, join my...
American Griot
Feb 10, 20231 min read
Show me some love, and Vote for Count Each Breath!
Hi Friends! I’m getting closer to clinching the “Cover of the Month” contest on AllAuthor! I’d need as much support from you guys. Please...
American Griot
Dec 1, 20221 min read
From the page to the stage!
Bridges are built to be crossed! That’s a direct line from one of my 18 poems in the collaboration between Reclaim Artist Collective and...
American Griot
Sep 18, 20191 min read
Loving the (Writing) Life – AWP2016
As March spilled into National Poetry Month, I was honored to attend the 2016 AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs)...
American Griot
Apr 23, 20162 min read
The Daily Ode
Before leaving I encouraged students in all of my classes to visit me in France through this blog. I didn’t think the learning pertained...
American Griot
May 15, 20152 min read
Honor Her-Story ! The American Griot Project
American Griot Project is where oral history and the arts embrace! It gives us a chance to honor a variety of phenomenal women and their...
American Griot
May 1, 20152 min read
Time to Write Day…ok 4…I know I missed 3.
What to write? What to write? Can I write about the amazing poets I got to spend time with on Saturday at the Small Press Expo? Or Monday...
American Griot
Apr 21, 20151 min read
Time to Write – Day 2
I find that when I am in the presence of poets or musicians, the Muse is there too. Today at the Small Press Expo in York, I was blessed...
American Griot
Apr 18, 20151 min read
Time to Write – Day 1
OK so I did it. I accepted my own challenge and took a few minutes today to write and revise a poem with the prompt “coffee and jazz.” ...
American Griot
Apr 17, 20151 min read
Come on Spring!
Spring keeps peeking out like a shy child behind her mother’s skirt. Yet, she ducks back again, leaving us with March snow storms,...
American Griot
Mar 27, 20152 min read
Book Review: Talking “White” Speaks Volumes
by Zeena Garnett Many of you may be scratching your head, wondering what exactly it means to talk “White.” Those of us who have grown up...
American Griot
Jan 4, 20152 min read
Tiger’s poem got me feeling ‘some type of way!’
One thing that drives most professors of writing crazy is abstractions. We find ourselves saying, “But what does that mean????” At the...
American Griot
Jan 22, 20142 min read
December 7th Taylor Mali hits the Harrisburg Area
If you want tickets to this event, contact Jumpstreet today! #MariaJamesThiaw #spokenword #TaylorMali #Slam #poetry #CarlaChristopher
American Griot
Nov 27, 20131 min read
The 11th Heavyword Poetry Slam is a Big Hit!
On Saturday, October 5th, the 11th annual Heavyword Poetry Slam returned to Central PA. This year, the iconic contest of poetic...
American Griot
Oct 13, 20132 min read
Happy Nappy Day Hits Harrisburg
Saturday, August 24th, Consir Thot is bringing Happy Nappy Day/Poets In the Park to Reservoir Park in Harrisburg, PA. This event will be...
American Griot
Aug 23, 20131 min read
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