Positive vibes everyone. Wondering what Sacramento's dynamic Mother/Daughter poetry/writing/publishing duo has been up to lately? We've been busy!
We are very happy and proud to announce that Straight Out Scribes is celebrating 30 years of being a Mother/Daughter poetry team this year (1990-2020). We were planning to celebrate big time but well, you know, the pandemic. Before the pandemic we were scheduled to feature at a number of programs and events which were cancelled but it wasn't long before we were invited to feature at the various ZOOM events: (Just so you know, we dress in our beautiful African Cultural Attire and give our audience the same high energy as we would if we were actually there in person)
Wanda Sabir's "Wanda's Picks" Radio Program which originates in the Bay Area interviewed us via phone March 25, 2020 @ 9 a.m. We shared our poetry and discussed our newest Afro-futuristic Anthology, "Caledonia's Daughters".
Derrell Roberts, Roberts Family Development Center featured us for their Wednesday school-age children's program via ZOOM on July 16, 2020 @ 9 a.m. (So much fun!) RFDC does great learning programs for children and families)
WOSE' Community Church featured us as part of their 35th Anniversary Program, via ZOOM July 19, 2020 @ 11:30 a.m. (This was an awesome program with numerous presentations.)
We were featured presenters for Lisa Daniels' "Sisters Mentally Mobilized", "Sac Youth Works, Sacramento", and "Pro Youth and Families" youth employment training program focusing on mental health and COVID-19 via ZOOM on August 18, 2020 @ 10:30 a.m.
Staajabu has been creating Afro-centric brooches, cosmic jewelry, crocheting, quilting and sewing. She is working on a seven-story sequel anthology to "Caledonia's Daughters".
On the Sept. 12 program which started at 7 p.m. hosted by the Brickhouse with poet AnnaMarie as the MC, we were featured poets for the fundraiser for Sacramento poet, engineer, Q fraternity member and family man Sean King as he continues his recover from a stroke pre-Covid shutdown. We were able to participate via FaceBook Live.
Dr. Chochezi has been teaching online classes via Zoom as a full-time professor and has recently added to her responsibilities the title of "Faculty Equity Coordinator". Since assuming that position in June she has coordinated two open mic readings for the campus, district and region via ZOOM - "Courageous Healing in Traumatic Times" and "Reimagining Safety in a Culture of Violence" which were attended by 40-50 people each time expressing their thoughts and feelings through poetry, essay, stories or song.
-------------
Looking for for a must read selection in COVID times for your self or your book club? We highly recommend Caledonia’s Daughters, a sci-fi afrofuturistic womynistic anthology of short-short stories by Staajabu available on barnesandnoble.com and amazon.
Until our next post, or the next time we gather whether in person or on ZOOM we encourage you to stay well and guard your health.
Straight Out Scribes, Dr. V.S. Chochezi and Staajabu

It's hard to believe almost a whole year has flown by since I posted last. Bad blogger... bad... bad blogger!! Anyway here's a little tiny bit of what the Scribes have been up to in case you aren't on Instagram or Facebook where we update more frequently. We do it for a good cause. We do it to uplift the community. We do it because it's fun. We do it because you keep asking. Poetry is a passion it isn't paying our bills, still we do accept honorariums, donations, stipends, love offerings, grants, and whatnot... just sayin, no begging. Below is some of what we did from June 2018 to now. So take a scroll and get caught up. Hopefully I will be blogging with you again before another year flies by. Peace Scribes fam!

June 2019
We will gather again this month for the 2nd occurrence of Creative Minds at the GOS ART Gallery, 1825 Del Paso Blvd. Bring your poems, art, short stories, musings... there are 10 open mic slots for 3 mins. per person. This month's theme is BAMM!!
Plus announcements, games, door prizes and refreshments. 

May 2019
May 25 SOS and GOS  launched Creative Minds, a new spoken word series held at GOS Art Gallery, 1825 Del Paso Blvd. There was standing room only and the series was well received. The theme was Crucial Comments and Vicious Verses.

May 9 SOS featured at Luna's Cafe in midtown. We along with the audience howled at the moon and made such a ruckus, they had us do an encore set. Yeah, Luna's is the business still! Of course we went early, got a good parking space a good spot to sit, got chips, guac and liquados… ahh life is good.

April 2019
April 13, 2019 SOS delivered a writing workshop for Our Life Stories writing conference held at Cosumnes River College. Participants were enthusiastic and talented. We truly had a good time.

April 4, Berkeley, CA An evening of justice and Freedom for Mumia program with Pam Africa, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Dr. Ula Thurman and others... SOS opened the program with poetry. As you might imagine, it was a powerful event!
https://sfbayview.com/2019/04/mumia-abu-jamal-an-evening-for-justice-and-freedom-unites-movement-leaders/
​
February and March 2019.. SOS hiatus... work a little, rest a little, what can I say? No burnout and when you have been at it for 30 years, well, we earned it.

January 2019
SOS shared poetry on the Alpha Academy Martha Parker Scholarship Fund Gospel Awards program entitled Finish Strong, held at Cosumnes River College, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. It was an awesome event!

December 2018
SOS shared poetry at the Crocker Art Museum Noon Year's Eve program. It was great fun and well attended!

November 2018
SOS delivered a workshop on writing, poetry and stress management for the Roberts Family Development Center youth participants.

October 2018
Oct. 6, 2018 SOS shared poetry on the Wakanda Day Program at the Sojourner Truth Museum Program.

August and September 2018
The Scribes took a needed hiatus. We stay busy ya'll!

July 2018 
July 26, 2018 SOS did a spoken word workshop with the Crocker Art Museum Block By Block Street team! Shout out to the young art organizers and enthusiasts!

June 9, we kicked off Legacy: a four generational family art show at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Thank you again for all who showed up, packed the place and shared your positive vibes with us. We look forward to celebrating the success of the exhibit with all of you at the closing reception on June 30, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The poetry center is on 25th and R Sts. in Sacramento.

June 1-2 SOS was featured at the Sacramento Black Book Fair. Photo by Ruth Marie Chambers.

May 19, SOS shared poetry and served as MCs for the first ever Uptown Art Fest at RFDC. It was so chill we are going to do it again on July 22, 2018, 5-8 p.m. 770 Darina Ave., Sacramento. Photo by Nia Nicole Brown.

We are soooo excited to see your reaction to the latest Scribes endeavour. Our family art show opens June 9 with a fun filled reception at 25th and R sts, home of the Sacramento Poetry Center. We hope to see you there! 

Straight Out Scribes was on Capitol Public Radio with Beth Ruyak promoting the Black Book Fair.. Click here for the highlights...  
​http://www.capradio.org/news/insight/2018/05/31/insight-053118c/
​​

It was so nice we will have to do it twice so join us at the next RFDC Uptown Arts Fest on Darina off Del Paso Blvd. on July 1, 2018 at 4 p.m. Wholesome fun for the whole family. Shawn Raiford, PDub and the songstress did the dang thang! Diva Market was on hand with their beautiful wares. The weather cooperated and the audience was perfect. Thanks Nia Brown for the photo.

There's quite a bit to catch you up on... but... not now. Now, I just want to invite you out to the Robert's Family Development Center in DPH for a FREE concert featuring Shawn Raiford Band. Straight Out Scribes will poet and MC. Diva Market vendors will be on site and it promises to be fun for the whole family. See you there at 5 p.m. Peace!!