Today we’d like to introduce you to Caryn Mirriam-goldberg
Caryn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Writing has always been a life-saver and life-giver for me, especially as a teen when I started writing to survive an abusive family situation. The more I wrote, I more I found clarity, courage, strength, and the big curiosity that propelled me forward to see what would happen and what I could create next.
When I started teaching at the University of Kansas in 1996 as a graduate student, I found my twin calling. Since then I’ve discovered such miracles and meaning in academic classrooms and especially community workshops where, by witnessing each other and listening more deeply to ourselves, we could feel the weight of our words and use writing to feel more alive and to make powerful art that reaches others.
All of this propelled me to found Transformative Language Arts (TLA) — first as a master’s program at Goddard College (now defunct) and soon after and with others as the Transformative Language Arts Network. TLA is social and personal transformation through writing, storytelling, theater, music and other word arts and for community building, healing and growth, and social change.
In 2003 I founded the Power of Words conference (a project of the TLA Network), and I’m thrilled to share that our 19th conference is happening close to home for me (I live in Lawrence) on Sept. 26-29 at Unity Village. This gathering brings together writers, storytellers, performers, artists, community leaders, and other change-makers to explore and celebrate how we can find greater inspiration, wisdom, and joy in creativity and community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Developing a new name (Transformative Language Arts) for an ancient impulse (sharing our truths and finding our meaning through creativity) is never a smooth path. The Transformative Language Arts Network is a small and very active nonprofit, and this is our first in-person conference in 5 years (although we’ve done and do a lot online). I’m so proud of people coming together from across the country to share their wisdom and words.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The TLA Network offers online classes, a certification in TLA, our annual conference, and rich resources for people to learn more about how to facilitate workshops, retreats, meetings, collaborations, and other projects that help others find more of their emerging voice and vision.
As as transformative language artist myself, I made my living through leading workshops and retreats, offering collaborative projects (including a training in facilitating workshops and meetings), and coaching people on writing and right livelihood (making a living doing what you love). I’ve come to this after 34 years of teaching at the college level although I’ve been doing some or all of this all along. I love being a gig worker — each day is a different delight. But like many of us who cobble together creative livelihoods, figuring out what’s neck or how to balance offerings, the feast and famine rhythm of making a living at times, and more can be challenging. In itself, this kind of livelihood is a kind of spiritual and creative practice, and I continually learn to guide myself and others by intuition and paying attention.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Coming to the Power of Words conference is a wonderful way to both lift up your own writing and creativity and to discover more of what you wish to do, be, and know next.
Pricing:
- Conference rates start at $225 but scholarship support is available.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tlanetwork.net
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/tlanetwork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TLANetwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TLANetwork
