The Write Blend Poetry Circle
As the founder, I saw a need to assemble a unique circle of skilled poets/writers who were willing to collaborate and share their artistry and cultural diversity through poetry. From their unique voices, individual gifts and cultural perspectives, the poetry circle was formed and named, “The Write Blend.”
Diane Wilbon Parks
Poet Bios
Diane Wilbon Parks founded The Write Blend collective in 2018. She is a visual poet and artist who has published two collections of poetry, and has read widely as a featured poet, radio show guest poet and interviewee on The Poet and the Poem national broadcast from the Library of Congress. Her artwork has been displayed widely. She lives in Prince George’s County, MD.
Clifford Bernier’s The Silent Art won the 2010 Gival Press Poetry Award. He is also the author of two poetry chapbooks, Earth Suite (Finishing Line Press), and Dark Berries (Pudding House). He is a member of the Washington Writer’s Collection and has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes and a Best of the Net Award.
Hiram Larew organized The Poetry Poster Project in 2017 to showcase Prince George’s County (MD) poets. More recently he established the Poetry X Hunger initiative to bring poetry and poets to the anti-hunger cause. His poems have been nominated for four Pushcart prizes. He lives in Anne Arundel County, MD.
Billye Okera is a renowned poet of witness who has blessed listeners at reading in churches, libraries and many other venues with heartfelt presentations of her work. A pioneering member of the widely acclaimed Collective Voices poetry group, Billye has published two collections. A third collection is forthcoming. She lives in Prince Gereoge’s County, MD.
Liz Reitzig is an internationally recognized food justice leader. She has presented her memory- and nature-infuse poetry at readings throughout the greater Washington, DC area. Founder of Nourishing Liberty, she lives in Prince George’s County, MD.
Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas has performed her evocative, socially-driven poetry at many venues around the greater Washington, DC area. Popular recordings of her performances appear on YouTube. A resident of Washington, DC she leads community efforts to serve the needs of at-risk young people through poetry.