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BETHLEHEM, PA–In honor of Memorial Day, veterans and their family members are invited to participate in empowering workshops designed to build comradery, provide strength and offer catharsis by discussing war and home front experiences through the written word. The free writing workshops – one for veterans and another for their families – are led by Iraq Veteran Jenny Pacanowski and Vietnam Veteran Jan Barry Sat., May 26<\/span> 2-4 p.m.<\/span>, in the ArtsQuest Center\u2019s Fowler Blast Furnace Room.<\/p>\n The workshops, presented by Female Veterans Empowered to Transition, Warrior Writers New Jersey, One Fight Foundation and ArtsQuest, are limited to 12 participants each. To reserve a spot, please contact Jenny Pacanowski at fvetinfo@gmail.com. No previous writing experience is necessary.<\/p>\n Following the workshops, the community is invited to attend a reading at 5:30 p.m.<\/span> and hear the servicemen and women as they speak and make a tribute to those they have lost. Pacanowski will curate the spoken word performance, which includes a collaboration of professional veteran performers and workshop participants.<\/p>\n \u201cIn these workshops we recreate \u2018warrior culture,\u2019 which meant returning home and sharing stories,\u201d says Pacanowski, a resident of Bethlehem. \u201cAs veterans, we always hear \u2018Thank you for your service\u2019 and \u2018Support the Troops.\u2019 We want to teach people that supporting also means listening.\u201d<\/p>\n Pacanowski is a poet, combat veteran, public speaker and writing workshop facilitator who has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and Humans of New York. She facilitates writing and performance workshops for veterans and their family members and has founded two projects – FVET: Female Veterans Empowered to Transition and Writing For You: Camaraderie, Creativity and Community.<\/p>\n Barry is an award-winning journalist and poet whose books include \u201cLife After War & Other Poems\u201d and \u201cWinning Hearts & Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans.\u201d A U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam, his poetry presentations range from New York theaters to high school classes. A resident of Teaneck, N.J., he facilitates Warrior Writers workshops for veterans and family members in the New Jersey-New York area.<\/p>\n The ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is located at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem<\/a>. For more information on these workshops and other Memorial Day programs at SteelStacks, please visit www.steelstacks.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Information and image provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nMark Demko, ArtsQuest
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