Dr. Jacqueline Allen Trimble, chair of Alabama State University’s Department of Languages and Literature (photo credit: David Campbell/ASU).
ASU Husband and Wife Team Promote Poetic Literacy and Storytelling at Citywide Events
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Advancing literacy -- in the form of teaching poetry and storytelling -- are among the topics being taught in a total of three free workshops that began this week and continue through November. The workshops are led by Dr. Jacqueline Allen Trimble, chair of Alabama State University’s Department of Languages and Literature, and her husband, Joseph Trimble. The events are sponsored by the Montgomery Botanical Gardens, in cooperation with AARP.
The sessions are titled "Literacy Workshops - Poetry and Storytelling in the Garden." Dr. Trimble, a prolific and prize-winning author of poetry, will teach the poetry sessions. The storytelling workshop will be led by Joseph Trimble, an acclaimed storyteller and published author, who also serves as a consultant with ASU's National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture. They both will lead the open-microphone “slam” at the third and final event in November.
"I just love doing events that promote poetry and allow me to engage with the community by sharing my love of poetry and helping others understand the mechanics, basics and beauty of poetry so they may also learn to create their very own poem as part of their workshop experience with me," said Dr. Trimble, who conducted the first event that kicked off the series on Sept. 18 in the Montgomery Botanical Gardens' Wisdom Woods classroom.
Dr. Trimble has received a great deal of recognition for her published works. She has been named as a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, a Cave Canem Fellow and an Alabama State Council on the Arts Literary Fellow. Dr. Trimble’s most recent published work is "How to Survive the Apocalypse."
STORYTELLING PART OF THE WORKSHOPS
On October 16 (Sunday) beginning at 3 p.m. the "Telling Your Story" workshop will be s hosted by renowned storyteller and oral history
expert, Joseph Trimble. It will also be held in the Montgomery Botanical Garden's
Wisdom Woods classroom.
Trimble is a well-respected practitioner of the spoken word. He is a co-founder of
the Alabama Storytelling Association, a member of the Central Alabama Storytelling
Association and the recipient of the 2013 Theatre Fellowship from the Alabama State
Council on the Arts. Like his wife, Trimble also is a published author. His books
include "Marty and the Million Man March" and "Marty Makes a Difference."
"My contribution to the workshop series is all about the power of storytelling and how it impacts the listener and how it may change the perspective of our lives on things both big and small," stated Joseph Trimble. "At my workshop, I will share my personal story and will help members of the class shape their own story so it will connect with others and be more impactful."
The third and final workshop takes place on November 20 at 3 p.m. It is an 'open microphone' event that involves both of the Trimbles. Titled "Poetry Slam & the Spoken Word,” this last of the trilogy of events allows registered participants to share their talent or just sit back and listen. It also takes place in the Wisdom Woods classroom. Refreshments will be served at all three workshops.
EVENTS ARE FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
The events are open and free to the public; however, due to limited space, registration
is required for all remaining workshop sessions. Participants may register at AARP
(states.aarp.org/alabama/
ASU news media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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