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September 2026

August 2026

Triumph Over Tragedy
08/31/2026

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained/Lost
08/30/2026

A Gallery of Neighbors: The Village Art Group’s Group Show
08/28/2026

A New and Improved Way to Stay Safer Online
08/28/2026

A Trip to The Geffen Galleries
08/28/2026

Barrier Free Living - A Path to Living a More Independent Lifestyle
08/28/2026

Conversations with Art
08/28/2026

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
08/28/2026

Member Connections with Music Conductor Bill Bing
08/28/2026

Pasadena Heritage Walking Tour
08/28/2026

In Their Hands
08/23/2026

Ease of Being: Managing the stuff of everyday life
08/20/2026

A Tribute to Fire Debris Remediators and Their Super-Sized Dump Trucks
08/18/2026

Really Irene?
08/15/2026

There Is A Risk
08/09/2026

2026 Year in Review
08/03/2026

A Message From Your Newly Elected President
08/03/2026

Neighborhoods Within the Village
08/03/2026

Reflection from PUSD Intern Isabella "Izzy" Roberts
08/03/2026

Reflection on Service & Joy from 2025/26 President Dick Myers
08/03/2026

The Villager Engagement Team Welcomed 54 New Villagers
08/03/2026

Treasurer’s Report
08/03/2026

What Activity! The Cultural Activities Team Report
08/03/2026

An Even Exchange
08/01/2026

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Peter J. Harris, Poet Laureate of Altadena

By Sharon Jarrett
Posted: 11/08/2022
Tags:

The speaker for the meeting was Peter J. Harris, the current Poet Laureate of Altadena.

 

Mr. Harris is the 2017/18 recipient of the City of Los Angeles COLA Fellowship.

 

He is the author of Bless the Ashes, winner of the 2015 Oakland Josephine Miles award.

 

He is also the author of The Black Man of Happiness:In Pursuit of My Untenable Right, winner of the 2015 American Book Award and author of the recently published Safe Arms.

 

He has contributed to: Voices from Leimert Park edited by Shonda Buchanan; Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles; Beyond edited by Suzanne Lummis; Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology edited by Thelma Reyna; and Love with Accountability: Digging Up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse by Aishah Shahidah Simmons.

 

The presentation has been recorded as The Black Man of Happiness and can be watched by clicking on the link.

 

Mr. Harris spoke with purpose, clarity and passion about the following topics:

 

1. Read a poem to illustrate his writing style and approach to poetry.

 

2. Discussed the genesis and work of the blackmanofhappiness.com project. He indicated there is 

   no formula for happiness and it was necessary to begin by seeing yourself fully.

3. Discussed writers in the Los Angeles area.

 

4. Explained the Synergy Project which encourages artists to share their work as an inspiration for poets.

   He indicated the purpose is to "uplift one another through creativity".

 

5. Finally, he discussed workshops and readings being sponsored by Altadena in support of the Poet Laureate.

 

Mr. Harris concluded with "I respect how you are moving through the world as long as you aren't hurting or taking advantage of anyone" and " Do not flinch from history. Equal responses of ethical behavior exist. Have the courage to confront what is uncomfortable and fight for the multidimensionality that is America".

 

The next meeting will be November 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM PST.

 

 

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