"In a very compact script, the playwright has invited us into a tension where we learn about family history, family bonds, and family values. The effective pacing of the dialogue and the deliberate actions of the characters effectively build the urgency of the situation. I would love to see more from this writer." Mabelle Reynoso
Troy loves spending time reading, writing, camping, and drinking craft beer. He is a teacher at an alternative high school and lives with his wife Laura and their two cats Jax and Maya. Troy grew up in Port Orange, Florida, and just moved to San Diego three years ago. He earned a Certificate in Performance in Creative Writing from Mesa College in spring, 2020.
Click above to listen to the play and below to read it.
“I’m tired of caring too much, / too tired of those who don’t care enough.” Ruwayda Abdi’s free verse poem “Misconstrued Realities” addresses, names, and questions a contradictory American audience. This poem carries in it the spirit of spoken word, conversational poetry that cites limited freedom and all too familiar and too painful news headlines that further marginalize communities of struggle. This poem talks back, holds its ground, steadies its voice, and aims." Janice Lobo Sapigao
Ruwayda Abdi is a student at San Diego City College studying Political Science. She has a passion for inspiring her audience through words and she hopes it encourages a collective action for change. She hopes to one day work for the United Nations. In her free time she likes to read as well as go on road trips with her friends.
Click above to listen to the poem and below to read it.
"This piece had a really powerful sense of place and relationships. I was captivated the entire time, rooting not just for the main character but for his entire world. The writer has a deft command of description and detail, and I felt so 'in the room.' Suicide is such a loaded subject to tackle, and I thought it was handled beautifully, giving teeth to the topic but also painting a bigger picture of family, heritage, and human connection." Julia Dixon Evans
Ann graduated with a B.A. in English and climbed the corporate ladder for several years before realizing that writing was her true passion. She enrolled in Mesa College to sharpen her skills and to test if creative writing was, indeed, the path she wanted to pursue. By the end of the semester, she felt reaffirmed of her love for literature and ready to call writing her craft. She is currently working on the manuscript of her first novel.
Click above to listen to the story or below to read it.
"The author has crafted a powerful take on the classic American road trip tale, with masterful attention to both inner and outer landscapes. The language is lean and assured, taking the reader on a compelling, essential journey through and to the west." Faith Adiele
District and Site Coordinators
Christy Ball, District/San Diego City College Coordinator, cball@sdccd.edu
Jennifer Derilo, San Diego Mesa College Coordinator, jderilo@sdccd.edu
Carmen Jay, San Diego Miramar College Coordinator, cjay@sdccd.edu
© 2020