The Dixie State University English Department will be hosting a series of poetry writing workshops for LGBTQ+ students at DSU and all allies, regardless of their gender identities or sexual orientation.
Dr. Cindy King, assistant professor of English and creative writing and faculty adviser to The Southern Quill, was recently awarded a DSU Community Engaged Learning Mini-Grant for her proposal, “Student Writers in the City: Blazing Trails in St. George.” The grant will support students from her ENGL 3141 Poetry Writing course, who will be engaged in active, hands-on learning through leading poetry writing activities in collaboration with Encircle, a non-profit LGBTQ+ Family & Youth Resource Center that will soon be opening a facility in St. George. Encircle opens homes that provide programs, services, and reduced cost therapy to LGBTQ+ individuals, parents, families, and the community.
Encircle aims to provide a safe environment for all members of the community. For LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, that means a place to study, connect with others, obtain the resources they’re looking for, or just grab a cookie. For parents and allies, Encircle is a place to create meaningful connections and find support as they navigate their own journey.
The workshops will be held on the DSU campus at the following dates and times: Wednesday, February 19 in HCC 471; Wednesday, February 26 in HCC 471; Tuesday, March 3 in HCC 476; Wednesday, March 11 in HCC 471; and Wednesday, March 25 in HCC 471.
All workshops will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. The workshops are free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be provided as well as free writing journal and swag. For more information, contact Dr. Cindy King at cindy.king@utahtech.edu or Elizabeth Aguirre, DSU’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center Coordinator, at elizabeth.aguirre@utahtech.edu. To learn more about Encircle, go to encircletogether.org.