Maria Breaux, Katy Brown, and Sandré Henriquez Nelson

On the 5/29/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Maria Breaux discusses her recent grant to write a book in honor of her brother, Davis Breaux. She intends to write about his time as a student and dancer, his spiritual awakening, and his time in Davis. She will be holding an event at Davis community church in the fellowship hall at 5:30 pm on June 3rd to remember David. Katy Brown explains the importance of finding community and listening to other voices. Dr. Andy and Brown discuss their favorite places to write, and Brown reads a poem titled “By the Stone Steps.” Sandré Henriquez Nelson shares the many exciting community events organized for Davis Pride and Pride Month.

Maria Breaux is a San Francisco-based filmmaker and writer. Recently grappling with an unimaginable loss—the tragic murder of her brother, known locally in Davis, California, as "the Compassion Guy"—Maria wants to continue candidly sharing her journey in cultivating compassion amid grief, drawing from her brother's profound legacy of collecting definitions of compassion to navigate through the most challenging phase of her life.

Katy Brown, a resident of Davis, California, was a Supervisor of Social Workers at Adult Protective Services in Sacramento. She has won awards in The Ina Coolbrith Circle, The Berkeley Poets Dinner, and California Federation of Chaparral Poets, Inc. competitions. She has had poems in Glass Art Magazine, Wee Wisdom, Daily Word, Harpstrings, Song of the San Joaquin, and Rattlesnake Review. Her workbook, Poetry Potions, was used in schools for nearly twenty years and has been released digitally. Her other writing credits include automobile humor, greeting cards, a multiple-ending book, and short mysteries for young readers. She wrote a regular “Snake Eyes” column for Rattlesnake Review.

Sandré Henriquez Nelson is a native Californian born and raised in Oakland. Sandre has served as the Davis Pride Director since it was rebranded in 2015. He has worked alongside a great team to build the event from about 500 attendees to an estimated 6500 attendees at the 2023 festival. Along with his pride work, he is excited to volunteer with various community groups both here in Davis and his former home town of Fairfield. Sandré and his husband of three years are proud Davis residents.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.