A spread of books on a table with Alex Feliciano Mejia sharing a poem at the Poetry In Parks event at China Camp State Park on September 14, 2024. Photo by Quiet Lightning.
Nature enthusiasts and poetry lovers recently gathered at China Camp State Park, situated on the shores of San Pablo Bay in Marin County, for the final “Poetry In Parks” event on September 14, 2024.
The event included poetry readings from the Marin County Youth Poet Laureate Mira Sridharan, Youth Poet Laureate Ambassadors Clarisse Kim and Lucy Bakowski. Attendees also enjoyed readings from five authors from the Better Ancestors series, a quarterly showcase of writers of color and other marginalized communities including:
- Karla Myn Khine
- Alex Feliciano Mejia
- Kato Bisase
- Zouhair Mussa
- Sara O’Neal
- Tadeh Kennedy.
The first 100 people to arrive received a copy of A Literary Mixtape, featuring writing of all kinds. The following writers were selected through an anonymous curatorial process and read their submission during the event.
- Aiya Madarang
- Susana Praver-Pérez
- Heather Bourbeau
- Abigail Bereola
- Norma Smith
- Catherine Montague
- Dani Burlison
- Chun Yu 俞淳
- Katie Wheeler-Dubin
- Robert S. Pesich
- Meesha Goldberg
- Simone Zapata
- Terri Glass
- Shirley Huey
- Charlie Getter
- Leslie Beach
- Fadl Fakhouri
California State Parks’ Director, Armando Quintero, speaking at the Poetry In Parks event at China Camp State Park on September 14, 2024. Photo by Quiet Lightning.
Karla Myn Khine sharing a poem at the Poetry In Parks event at China Camp State Park on September 14, 2024. Photo by Quiet Lightning.
Armando Quintero, Director of California State Parks, spoke to the gathered crowd and expressed his hope that events such as Poetry In Parks will create continued public interest in parks.
The event showcased readings by Marin County Youth Poet Laureate Ambassadors and contributors to Quiet Lightning’s Better Ancestors series. “Thanks to California State Parks, we have access to these treasured habitats and ecosystems for both refuge and recreation,” said Evan Karp, Executive Director of Quiet Lightning. “Poetry in Parks is a celebration of nature and culture that I think embraces some of the best of what California has to offer. Quiet Lightning is proud to have nurtured this relationship with Parks since 2015, and we’re excited to revamp the series – our first time producing the event in person since 2019.”
The event was also supported by Friends of China Camp, a non-profit organization committed to keeping China Camp State Park open and thriving for the community. “Whether it’s the ancient traditions of the Coast Miwok, the shrimping practices of 19th century Chinese immigrants, or the sea level rise research being done today, poetry is, perhaps, the most creative and thought-provoking medium for sharing the stories about this land that is home to so many people,” said Martin Lowenstein, Executive Director of Friends of China Camp.
Kato Bisase sharing a poem at the Poetry In Parks event at China Camp State Park on September 14, 2024. Photo by Quiet Lightning.
If you were not able to attend the Poetry In Parks event at China Camp, we’ve provided links to video recordings for your enjoyment.
Thank you to our partners at Quiet Lightning and Friends of China Camp, the Marin Poetry Center and the Marin County Youth Poet Laureate Ambassadors program for a memorable day filled with art!
