Welcome to the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) newsletter. In this week's issue, we announce the deadline extension for Poetry Café submissions to Friday, March 28th, celebrate a Literary Jam event produced by AHP community members, and promote workshops held by The Good Listening Project. The newest edition of Lombardi Voices is also included in this newsletter.

The 10th annual Poetry Café

Join us for the 10th anniversary of the Poetry Café on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 2 pm- 3 pm for an afternoon filled with beautiful words and creative expression honoring this year's theme, Hope Through Community.

This is a hybrid event with the option to attend in person at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital's Chapel or online via Zoom.

Photos of in person Poetry Cafés over the years

Poetry Café submissions have been extended to March 28, 2025!

To have your writing considered for presentation at the Poetry Café,

please submit your poem to lombardiartsadmin@georgetown.edu.

AHP Participants Organize A Literary Jam!

Poetry readers at the Literary Jam, including Michelle Roberts (far right)

and Marjorie Young (next to Michelle)

Community members Bettye Wages, Bette Hepler, and Marjorie Young Grays recently organized a wonderful Seasoned Women's Literary Jam to celebrate the release of Bettye Wages' new book, Leaves from Ancient Trees and support other women writers aged 70 and above.

Almost everyone in this prolific group of writers has published a book in the last two years.

Avid supporters of the AHP, they especially enjoy attending writer-in-residence, Michelle Berberet's Expressive Writing class offered free of charge on Eventbrite by the AHP.

AHP enthusiast Bettye Wages stated that the event grew out of Bette Hepler's desire to "do something nice for her friends". 

Flyer for Literary Jam

Bettye Wages reading from her new book

"Leaves from Ancient Trees"

Held at the Huntington Community Center in Bowie, MD, the event had over 70 attendees, enthusiastic and supportive friends and family filled with the room. With poetry readings, live music and a light lunch the event brought entertainment and enjoyment to all who attended.

Following the success of the Literary Jam, the esteemed organizers have discussed taking the idea to senior developments and giving other senior writers an opportunity to share their work.

This event exemplifies the values of the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, celebrating the importance of community, creativity, and fellowship. Literary Jam organizer Michelle Roberts said, "poetry flows from the individual's mind, heart, and spirit" encouraging everyone to invest in the power of poetry.

The Good Listening Project

The Georgetown Howard Center for Medical Humanities & Health Justice (MHHJ) and the American Poetry Museum (APM) invite you to participate in the Poetic Health Justice in Cancer Workshop Series!

Whether as a patient, survivor, caregiver, physician, or advocate, your story is vital in illuminating structural injustices that shape individual experiences with cancer and understanding how disparities manifest in real lives and communities. The MHHJ and APM aim to transform silence into action, ensuring that the realities of cancer in the DMV are not just acknowledged but truly heard, felt, and addressed by all those who play a role in your care and your communities. Through the lens of critical medical humanities, we explore how narratives, histories, and cultural contexts shape health experiences, using literary art as a tool for justice.

Led by acclaimed poet Naomi Ayala, this two-part workshop—held on Friday, March 21st and Friday, March 28th from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM—will guide you in translating your cancer journey into poetry, uncovering structural injustices, and reimagining a path toward well-being. Participants will also have the opportunity to perform their work at "Poetic Health Justice: A Voice to Cancer Lore," a special event in collaboration with the American Poetry Museum.

Food will be provided. 

If you are available for both workshop dates, please sign up here.

Lombardi Voices Is Now Available!

Winter 2024 Edition of Lombardi Voices

Volume 21 of Lombardi Voices is now available!

It can be purchased as a hard copy or eBook via KDP Publishing.

Free physical copies of Lombardi Voices are now available and can be picked up in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Adult Clinic and accessed online as a PDF.

If you have any questions or concerns,

please email lombardiartsadmin@georgetown.edu. 

Lombardi Voices is supported by the Kathleen A. Beard Fund for the Arts and Humanities and an anonymous donor.

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) promotes a holistic approach to healthcare for patients, caregivers, physicians, nurses, staff members, and students through the use of music, dance, expressive writing, and visual arts. These therapeutic modalities are normally provided throughout the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and online through Eventbrite courses. The AHP is a program of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.