My Calendar

Events in March 2024

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
February 25, 2024(2 events)

1:30 pm: “Dark Matter” – A Writing Workshop for BIPOC Youth


February 25, 2024

Consecutive Sundays, February 11, 18, and 25, 2024

Inlandia Institute and UCR ARTS Present a Blacklandia Events Series Workshop

“Dark Matter” – A Writing Workshop for BIPOC Youth Inspired by “The Impact of Images: Mamie Till’s Courage from Tragedy” with Lydia F. Theon Ware i

Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts

3824 Main Street, Riverside

1:30-3:00 PM

Free to BIPOC teens ages 14-18, with parental approval.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/DarkMatterTEENS

 

BIPOC teens ages 14-18 are invited to a writing workshop based on the exhibition “The Impact of Images: Mamie Till’s Courage from Tragedy,” which runs through March 30, 2024 at the Culver Center of the Arts in downtown Riverside. This powerful collection of photographs includes both family photos and extraordinary images made by Black photojournalists, and will inspire the writing, reflection, and insight of a new generation.

2:00 pm: “Remaking Language: AAVE’s Influence on Culture through Writing” Workshop


February 25, 2024

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Inlandia Institute and UCR ARTS Present a Blacklandia Events Series Workshop

“Remaking Language: AAVE’s Influence on Culture through Writing” with James Coats

2:00-4:00 PM PT, on Zoom

To register: http://tinyurl.com/AAVEJamesCoats

Free and open to the public.

 

This generative writing workshop will focus on language while highlighting the impact of African American Vernacular English in writing and its influence on mainstream culture.

 

This workshop is intended to educate those who are unaware or misinformed about AAVE, and its history and influence in the world around us today. It will encourage writers, especially BIPOC writers, to embrace the language of their experiences and authenticity of their culture. The workshop will also prompt participants to explore poetic elements such as colloquialism, dialect, and vernacular.

February 26, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: Writing for Children with José Chávez


February 26, 2024

Writing for Children with José Chávez

(All Levels)

Alternating Mondays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/11 and 3/25/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

This workshop is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to write or are writing for children. We’ll explore the writing voice for children, define a “picture book,” story arc, story introductions, appropriate vocabulary, children’s poetry, and more. There will be time to flex our writing muscles and develop the beauty and strength of our “voice” for children.

José Chávez is a retired bilingual teacher and dedicates his life to writing. He's had poetry published in the Multilingual Educator Journal, Acentos Review, Inlandia Anthology and has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He lives in Riverside, CA, is married, and has three grown children.

February 27, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington


February 27, 2024

The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington

(All Levels)

Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 1/16, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, and 3/12/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

Discover the art and craft of writing poetry with generative prompts and other forms of poetic inspiration. Brief group feedback will help you uncover images and language that resonate for you and for your audience.

Romaine Washington, M. Ed., is the editor of "These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology" and the author of “Purgatory Has an Address” (Bamboo Dart Press) and “Sirens in Her Belly” (Jamii Publications). She has been published in various anthologies and periodicals, including Inlandia Institute’s “San Bernardino Singing” anthology and “Cholla Needles 32, 36 and 39.”

Ms. Washington is a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole, South Carolina, and the Inland Area Writing Project at the University of California, Riverside. She was a public school educator for over twenty years and has developed a social justice curriculum available for free on her website: https://www.romainewashington.com/. The proud mother of two sons, Romaine Washington is a native Californian from San Bernardino who resides in the Inland Empire.

 

February 28, 2024(1 event)

6:30 pm: ASL Poetry with Ryan Fingerle


February 28, 2024

Writing and Presenting Poetry in American Sign Language with Ryan Fingerle

(All Levels)

Alternating Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 1/31, 2/14, 2/28, 3/13, and 3/27/24, on Zoom

FREE. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

Do you want to write poetry but don’t know how? Would you like to express poetry in ASL, but you’re not sure where to begin?

Then come to this workshop! This introductory course is especially created for poetry lovers who want to learn how to write and present poetry in American Sign Language. It’s also for those who want to learn how to appreciate the art of poetry in both English and ASL. All are welcome – d/Deaf, HOH, and hearing – and an interpreter and closed captioning will be available.

In this course, participants will experience both written and visual poetry. The workshop has several aims: to increase the ways you can become more engaged and curious readers of poetry; to increase your confidence in writing poems through text in English and American Sign Language; and to provide you with the support and resources for writing and presenting poetry in ASL.

Ryan Fingerle is a Deaf writer, poet, and educator whose love of words has no boundaries. One of her works, “Stuck in the Middle,” was published in the 2021 MUSE Literary Magazine. She presented her English poem “Connected” in ASL in front of a live audience for a National Deaf History and Poetry Month event. Ryan holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, and she is in a process of earning her M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a private tutor in English and Math, and her 10 years of experience – and passion – is helping her adult students and their families enjoy the merits of both ASL and the English language.

February 29, 2024(1 event)

Submission Window Closes for ONLINE JOURNAL ALL-TEEN ISSUE

February 29, 2024

January 16-February 29, 2024

Online Literary Journal Submission Window for

Inlandia: A Literary Journey ALL-TEEN ISSUE

Free and open to teens 13-19 years old.

To submit: http://tinyurl.com/InlandiaSubmit

March 1, 2024
March 2, 2024
March 3, 2024(2 events)

1:30 pm: “Inlandia Books Authors on the Books That Made Them”


March 3, 2024

Sunday, March 3, 2024

1:30-3:00 PM

Inlandia Institute and UCR ARTS Present Conversations at the Culver

“Inlandia Books Authors on the Books That Made Them”

Featuring Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Judy Kronenfeld, Thatcher Carter, Victoria Waddle, and Carlos Cortés, Tisha Marie Reichle-Aguilera, and Romaine Washington

Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts

3824 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501

Free and open to the public.

In commemoration of National Reading Month, join Inlandia on Sunday, March 3, for another Conversations at the Culver. Inlandia Books authors current and forthcoming will discuss the books that made them. Bring your own book to share and join in the conversation. Every reader has that one book that hooks them. What is yours?

 

2:00 pm: “Dog & Cat Show” with Marionettes at RAM


March 3, 2024

Sunday, March 3, 2024

2:00-3:00 PM

First Sundays with Riverside Art Museum

Nicole Cloeren and Puppets a la Carte

“Dog & Cat Show” with Marionettes!

Riverside Art Museum

3425 Mission Inn Avenue

Riverside, CA 92501

Free and open to the public.

Join Inlandia and RAM at Riverside Art Museum on Sunday, March 3, for puppetry fun for the whole family! Nicole Cloeren and Puppets a la Carte will present “Dog & Cat Show” – with marionettes!

March 4, 2024(1 event)

6:30 pm: All Genres Workshop with James Coats


March 4, 2024

All Genres Workshop with James Coats

(All Levels)

Alternating Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, and 3/4/24, on Zoom

$50; Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

In this multi-genre workshop, participants receive twice-monthly inspiration in the form of both poetry and prose. Prompts inspire writing in the genre of your choice. Class discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face in generating poetry, memoir, and short and long fiction.

James Coats is an author, poet, and educator born in Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire. He received his BFA from Cal Poly Pomona and his MBA from Cal State San Bernardino. As a creative change agent, he believes the arts can inspire youth and influence positive change in the world. His first poetry collection, If I had Lived, was published in 2018. In 2021, he founded Lift Our Voices Education, which hosts the monthly “Be The Change: Social Justice Writing Workshop.” His newest poetry collection, Midnight & Mad Dreams, is published by World Stage Press. Follow him on Instagram @MrLovingWords.

 

March 5, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: Spoken Word Poetry with David Puma


March 5, 2024

Spoken Word Poetry with David Puma

(All Levels)

Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM, 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/5, and 3/19/24

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

In person at Riverside Main Library

3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside

In this Spoken Word Poetry Workshop, we invite you to dive into the expressive storytelling power of the spoken word. Unleash your creativity and find your unique voice as we explore the art of crafting powerful and evocative poems. You will be guided through various poetic forms, techniques, and performance styles. Discover how to convey emotions, perspectives, and personal experiences through your words and presence.

Through interactive exercises, drafting poems, peer review, and analyzing spoken word poets, you will learn to infuse your poems with rhythm, rhyme, and mesmerizing imagery, unlocking the potential to engage listeners on a profound level. Our inclusive and supportive environment encourages open expression, fostering a space where you can share your truth and elevate your spoken word prowess. Registration is limited to 12.

David Puma obtained his M.F.A. in creative writing at San Jose State University and his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Redlands. He has been in advanced poetry workshops every semester for the last four years, and has performed spoken word across California, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire – as well as in New York City and in London, U.K. Professionally, David’s poetry has been included on streaming platforms like Disney+.

 

March 6, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle


March 6, 2024

All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle

(Int.-Adv.)

Alternating Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM PT, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, and 3/6/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

In this multi-genre workshop, participants submit poetry and prose for biweekly critiques and receive feedback from other group members. Discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face. The workshop leader provides biweekly articles and links related to participants’ work, particularly to problems that were discussed in the previous session.

Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, with fiction and nonfiction published in literary journals and anthologies, including in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. A collection of her short fiction, Acts of Contrition, is available from Los Nietos Press and her chapbook, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans, is available from Bamboo Dart Press. Her YA novel about a teen escaping a polygamist cult is coming from Inlandia Books. Previously the managing editor of Inlandia: A Literary Journey, she helped to establish a yearly teen issue. In a previous life, she was a high school English teacher and librarian.

March 7, 2024(1 event)

7:00 pm: Panel Discussion -- The Civic Responsibility of Journalism


March 7, 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024

7:00-8:00 PM

Riverside Arts Walk

With Great Power: The Civic Responsibility of Journalism

Moderated by Minerva Canto with veteran journalists David Allen, Mark Acosta, Breanna Reeves, and Manny Sandoval

Riverside Main Library Community Room

3900 Mission Inn Avenue

Riverside, CA 92501

Free and open to the public.

Please join Inlandia – in partnership with Riverside Public Library, the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California, and the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties – at Riverside Main Library at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 7, for a panel discussion about the enduring principles of civic and ethical responsibility in journalism. Moderated by Minerva Canto with veteran journalists David Allen, Mark Acosta, Breanna Reeves, and Manny Sandoval. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

March 8, 2024
March 9, 2024(1 event)

10:00 am: Breathing Life Into Characters with Renee Gurley


March 9, 2024

Breathing Life Into Characters with Renee Gurley

(All levels)

Alternating Saturdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM PT, 1/13, 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, and 3/9/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

"Breathing Life Into Characters" is a dynamic and immersive writing workshop designed to empower writers of all levels to create compelling, multi-dimensional characters that leap off the page. Whether you're a seasoned novelist, aspiring screenwriter, or just someone with a passion for storytelling, this course will provide you with the tools and techniques to develop characters that resonate with readers and leave a lasting impact.

R. Gurley, MA, MFA, is a writer and English teacher with over 20 years of experience with words, whose works have appeared in Coping Magazine, Lehigh Valley Woman’ s Journal, and Budget Press.

March 10, 2024
March 11, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: Writing for Children with José Chávez


March 11, 2024

Writing for Children with José Chávez

(All Levels)

Alternating Mondays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/11 and 3/25/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

This workshop is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to write or are writing for children. We’ll explore the writing voice for children, define a “picture book,” story arc, story introductions, appropriate vocabulary, children’s poetry, and more. There will be time to flex our writing muscles and develop the beauty and strength of our “voice” for children.

José Chávez is a retired bilingual teacher and dedicates his life to writing. He's had poetry published in the Multilingual Educator Journal, Acentos Review, Inlandia Anthology and has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He lives in Riverside, CA, is married, and has three grown children.

March 12, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington


March 12, 2024

The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington

(All Levels)

Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 1/16, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, and 3/12/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

Discover the art and craft of writing poetry with generative prompts and other forms of poetic inspiration. Brief group feedback will help you uncover images and language that resonate for you and for your audience.

Romaine Washington, M. Ed., is the editor of "These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology" and the author of “Purgatory Has an Address” (Bamboo Dart Press) and “Sirens in Her Belly” (Jamii Publications). She has been published in various anthologies and periodicals, including Inlandia Institute’s “San Bernardino Singing” anthology and “Cholla Needles 32, 36 and 39.”

Ms. Washington is a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole, South Carolina, and the Inland Area Writing Project at the University of California, Riverside. She was a public school educator for over twenty years and has developed a social justice curriculum available for free on her website: https://www.romainewashington.com/. The proud mother of two sons, Romaine Washington is a native Californian from San Bernardino who resides in the Inland Empire.

 

March 13, 2024(1 event)

6:30 pm: ASL Poetry with Ryan Fingerle


March 13, 2024

Writing and Presenting Poetry in American Sign Language with Ryan Fingerle

(All Levels)

Alternating Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 1/31, 2/14, 2/28, 3/13, and 3/27/24, on Zoom

FREE. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

Do you want to write poetry but don’t know how? Would you like to express poetry in ASL, but you’re not sure where to begin?

Then come to this workshop! This introductory course is especially created for poetry lovers who want to learn how to write and present poetry in American Sign Language. It’s also for those who want to learn how to appreciate the art of poetry in both English and ASL. All are welcome – d/Deaf, HOH, and hearing – and an interpreter and closed captioning will be available.

In this course, participants will experience both written and visual poetry. The workshop has several aims: to increase the ways you can become more engaged and curious readers of poetry; to increase your confidence in writing poems through text in English and American Sign Language; and to provide you with the support and resources for writing and presenting poetry in ASL.

Ryan Fingerle is a Deaf writer, poet, and educator whose love of words has no boundaries. One of her works, “Stuck in the Middle,” was published in the 2021 MUSE Literary Magazine. She presented her English poem “Connected” in ASL in front of a live audience for a National Deaf History and Poetry Month event. Ryan holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, and she is in a process of earning her M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a private tutor in English and Math, and her 10 years of experience – and passion – is helping her adult students and their families enjoy the merits of both ASL and the English language.

March 14, 2024
March 15, 2024
March 16, 2024
March 17, 2024
March 18, 2024
March 19, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: Spoken Word Poetry with David Puma


March 19, 2024

Spoken Word Poetry with David Puma

(All Levels)

Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM, 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/5, and 3/19/24

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

In person at Riverside Main Library

3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside

In this Spoken Word Poetry Workshop, we invite you to dive into the expressive storytelling power of the spoken word. Unleash your creativity and find your unique voice as we explore the art of crafting powerful and evocative poems. You will be guided through various poetic forms, techniques, and performance styles. Discover how to convey emotions, perspectives, and personal experiences through your words and presence.

Through interactive exercises, drafting poems, peer review, and analyzing spoken word poets, you will learn to infuse your poems with rhythm, rhyme, and mesmerizing imagery, unlocking the potential to engage listeners on a profound level. Our inclusive and supportive environment encourages open expression, fostering a space where you can share your truth and elevate your spoken word prowess. Registration is limited to 12.

David Puma obtained his M.F.A. in creative writing at San Jose State University and his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Redlands. He has been in advanced poetry workshops every semester for the last four years, and has performed spoken word across California, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire – as well as in New York City and in London, U.K. Professionally, David’s poetry has been included on streaming platforms like Disney+.

 

March 20, 2024
March 21, 2024(1 event)

2:00 pm: Celebrate World Poetry Day at Heritage House!


March 21, 2024

Thursday, March 21, 2024

2:00-4:00 PM

Inlandia Institute and Museum of Riverside Present World Poetry Day at Heritage House

Heritage House

8193 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside 92504

Free and open to the public.

Experience World Poetry Day: A Multilingual Poetry Experiment – in partnership with Museum of Riverside in celebration of their centennial birthday! Featuring poets Romaine Washington, Cindy Rinne, Lydia Theon Ware i, James Ducat, and James Coats.

We will also have an open mic! Bring your poetry – in any language – to share!

March 22, 2024
March 23, 2024
March 24, 2024
March 25, 2024(1 event)

6:00 pm: Writing for Children with José Chávez


March 25, 2024

Writing for Children with José Chávez

(All Levels)

Alternating Mondays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/11 and 3/25/24, on Zoom

$50. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

This workshop is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to write or are writing for children. We’ll explore the writing voice for children, define a “picture book,” story arc, story introductions, appropriate vocabulary, children’s poetry, and more. There will be time to flex our writing muscles and develop the beauty and strength of our “voice” for children.

José Chávez is a retired bilingual teacher and dedicates his life to writing. He's had poetry published in the Multilingual Educator Journal, Acentos Review, Inlandia Anthology and has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He lives in Riverside, CA, is married, and has three grown children.

March 26, 2024
March 27, 2024(1 event)

6:30 pm: ASL Poetry with Ryan Fingerle


March 27, 2024

Writing and Presenting Poetry in American Sign Language with Ryan Fingerle

(All Levels)

Alternating Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 1/31, 2/14, 2/28, 3/13, and 3/27/24, on Zoom

FREE. Registration required.

http://tinyurl.com/WriteWinter2024

Do you want to write poetry but don’t know how? Would you like to express poetry in ASL, but you’re not sure where to begin?

Then come to this workshop! This introductory course is especially created for poetry lovers who want to learn how to write and present poetry in American Sign Language. It’s also for those who want to learn how to appreciate the art of poetry in both English and ASL. All are welcome – d/Deaf, HOH, and hearing – and an interpreter and closed captioning will be available.

In this course, participants will experience both written and visual poetry. The workshop has several aims: to increase the ways you can become more engaged and curious readers of poetry; to increase your confidence in writing poems through text in English and American Sign Language; and to provide you with the support and resources for writing and presenting poetry in ASL.

Ryan Fingerle is a Deaf writer, poet, and educator whose love of words has no boundaries. One of her works, “Stuck in the Middle,” was published in the 2021 MUSE Literary Magazine. She presented her English poem “Connected” in ASL in front of a live audience for a National Deaf History and Poetry Month event. Ryan holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, and she is in a process of earning her M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a private tutor in English and Math, and her 10 years of experience – and passion – is helping her adult students and their families enjoy the merits of both ASL and the English language.

March 28, 2024
March 29, 2024
March 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
April 1, 2024
April 2, 2024
April 3, 2024
April 4, 2024(1 event)

7:00 pm: Panel Discussion and Book Launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina


April 4, 2024

First Thursdays Arts Walk: Panel Discussion and Book Launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina

Thursday, April 4, 2024

7:00-8:00 PM

Riverside Main Library Community Room Riverside Public Library Community Room

3900 Mission Inn Avenue

Riverside, CA 92501

Free and open to the public.

With William Medina, Carlos Cortés, Judith Auth, and Suzanna Medina

7:00-8:00 PM, doors open at 6:30

Inlandia Institute presents the launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina, Riverside historian and educator. The author will be joined by a distinguished panel to discuss his novel and the Medina family’s renowned Cafe. The panel consists of Judith Auth, Carlos Cortés, and Suzanna Medina.

William Medina’s novel, Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas is based on stories inspired by events and characters who frequented his parent’s eatery in Riverside. He masterfully re-imagines and chronicles “… curious bits and pieces of real events that I have reassembled to weave fictional stories,” states Medina.

William and his siblings grew up helping their parents Oscar and Josefina Medina at the cafe. Over the years he and his siblings managed the eatery. The original cafe was located in a shopping center in Riverside’s multicultural Eastside. Located nearby was the iconic Nosotros Fine Arts Workshop directed by acclaimed artist Leer Larkin — who was integral to the Medina family.

Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas will be available for sale and signing. The event is free and open to the public.

The library will also provide an array of books on local history available for check out. Don’t have a library card? You can get one on the spot!

Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Please join us.

April 5, 2024
April 6, 2024(1 event)

2:00 pm: Zoom launch for Guajira, the cuba girl by Zita Arocha


April 6, 2024

Saturday, April 6, 2024

2:00-3:00 PM PT, on ZOOM

Launch of Guajira – the Cuba girl by Zita Arocha

Winner of the 2021 Eliud Martínez Prize

Free and open to the public. Registration is required. TO REGISTER:

http://tinyurl.com/GuajiraLaunch

After you register, we will send you a Zoom meeting link prior to the event.

Inlandia Institute is proud to announce the publication of the inaugural Eliud Martínez Prize for literature, Zita Arocha, for Guajira – the Cuba girl, a memoir. This annual prize is awarded to a first book author in fiction or creative nonfiction who identifies as Hispanic, Latino/a/x, or Chicana/o/x.