Pidgie Panzarino on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

It's a pleasure to have Pidgie Panzarino on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show, which goes live on Tuesday, May 6, at 6 PM ET/4 PM MT. We'll be talking about disability and Creative Perseverance. https://youtu.be/eEeiAQUQ4ko?si=LYc94T8u7A5aMd31 via @YouTube 

AutisticallyYours.com/Join-Me's Heather Sell on the Anne Leighton Inclus...

A special episode of the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show.  In light of what's going on with the U.S.A.'s Health and Human Services controversy on Autism, I decided to go to my friend Heather Sell on her work getting AutisticallyYours.com/join-us off the ground. One note, she'd like to set up a registry for scientific purposes, not eugenics. She's embraced her autism.

Joan Hammel on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Joan Hammel will be on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show on Tuesday evening at 5 PM CT/6 PM ET. We talk about using her talents to bring life to the world. She's performed for the USO, written for the National Parks Service including collaborating with a member of the Yakima Tribe with Faran Sohappy, which led to a NAMMY Nomination. She earned an Emmy for her music on "It's Fun to Be Fit" for the CBS affiliate—WKRS-Chicago. Her singing is in the Flight 93 Museum, and she was part of a SAG AFTRA team of actors that worked with Blind Students at Chicago's Legendary Steppenwolf Theatre. She has many more contributions to the community. Listen and love. Thanks!

Ricky Byrd on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Ricky Byrd on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show live on Tuesday at 6 PM ET/ 3 PM PT/ 11 PM UK Time. Ricky Byrd, who has a new album "NYC Made" on Wicked Cool Records. We also talk about recovery and connecting with people. https://youtu.be/fr2jcPZsd5c?si=LmlCeoVx1bQ2e2Eu via @YouTube

Newsletter #20 The Anne Leighton Inclusion

Good wishes.  I’m getting ready for my second Kindness Session, happening on Tuesday, April 1, 6 pm, at the Poe Cottage.  This one found support in a number of media outlets including my hometown paper, “The Norwood News,” “Riverdale Press,” “Bronx Tourism” website, and New York City’s “Thought Gallery,” which lists major talks including events happening at the 92^nd Y. 

My poem for this letter is “Roger That” (Directive: Affirm!), which is dedicated to Roger McCormick who made these events happen.  (He also had me join the poets at Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday this past January.  I told him I’d love to help him find poets for next year. If you’re in the New York City area on January 19, and have a favorite Poe poem and want to write something inspired by him to share, send me a note!

 Kindness is important if you lead community organizations. Leaders have a responsibility for inclusion, not ignoring or belittling people that want to be involved with creating events even if they don’t make a difference. I recently started the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show, and am aiming to create new broadcasts every two weeks. Recently I had the pleasure to interview Joe Viglione, a musician that’s creating a documentary about bullying in senior housing. This and other interviews, including a recent one with New Jersey comedian John Poveromo are shared alongside some of my poems, including “Roger That,” at workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com.

(Joe is also listing his interview at  https://soundcloud.com/joe-viglione/anneleightonvideoplayback )

Joe was big into grants and fundraising for his work, and offered some advice in his interview. After this workshop, I’ll be reaching out to some organizations and sponsors, including a tasty candymaker that doesn’t use corn syrup, to get behind the Kindness Session. I’m looking for an outlet that we can include our poems and short writers, as well as “Kindness in the News Stories” on the website. If you have any suggestions, let me know. 

Hoping you’re having a nice spring, and finding ways to lift up your friends. 

Roger That

(Directive: Affirm!)

 

Inclusion

I reached out to the wrong person

and had to make a transition

to find humanity

a friend for my poetry

at Poe Cottage

 

He listened

first to my friend the musician

then to my never ending

idea of connecting

to create a night of poetry

at Poe Cottage

 

He’s written

stories about our community

and organized its history

including some teaching

manifesting our right to write

at Poe Cottage

 

He waited

for the people that journeyed

to a wrong location

and directed them here

walking them to Poe Cottage

To write poetry

 

I’m thankful

He listened and gave me

this new beginning

it’s about education

gracing kindness at Poe Cottage

in our poetry.

-2024

  

 

 

Joe Viglione on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

My interview with Joe Viglione, a multi-talented artist fighting against bullying in senior housing, goes live on YouTube at 6 pm, March 25.