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Reclaiming Nature Writing
A course that expands how we write about nature in a way that considers issues like ancestry, colonization, migration trauma, and more.
When and where
Date and time
February 22, 2022 · 5pm - April 19, 2022 · 7pm PST
Location
Online
Refund Policy
About this event
UPDATE: SPRING SESSIONS HAS ENDED. IF INTERESTED IN REGISTERING FOR FALL SESSION, EMAIL CONTACT@AMANDAEMACHADO.COM TO BE ADDED TO THE REGISTRATION LIST.
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When we think about traditional “nature writing,” poems and essays about getting lost in “pristine wilderness” and survival stories of (mostly White) rugged adventurers may come to mind. In this course, we’ll use nature writing from Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, Queer and other writers of color to explore how we can write about nature and the outdoors in ways that also considers issues like ancestry, colonization, racial justice, migration trauma, sexuality, and more.
In our time together, students will learn from the work of authors like Audre Lorde, Kiese Laymon, Natalie Diaz, Kim Tallbear, Joy Harjo, Robin Kimmerer, and many others to help expand their idea of what nature and outdoor writing can look like. We’ll use this work as inspiration and an entry way for creating and eventually sharing our own nature and outdoor writing with the group.
This class will be meet on Zoom, and will be capped at fifteen participants.
Dates:
Tuesdays, 5-7pm PST, February 22rd-March 29th SOLD OUT
Tuesdays, 5-7pm PST, April 19th - May 24th
Cost: $300
***For people of color with financial need, please contact the instructor for 50% off and 25% discounts: contact@amandaemachado.com***
Testimonials from last year’s participants:
“I loved everything: the start of each class, the grounding exercise and connection to land, the community agreements, the music she played during writing prompts, the prompts themselves, and that we didn't feel pressured to share. This allowed for more genuine/raw writing to emerge.”
“Amanda was a stellar teacher. She was super prepared for each class, but also provided an open space that people felt comfortable in. The way she crafted the class and the readings was super informative and inspiring.”
“The readings were wonderful; I appreciated the ground rules and creation of safe space by the teacher and participants; the overall approach and theme was unique and powerful.”
About the instructor:
Amanda E. Machado (she/they) is a queer Latine writer and facilitator whose work explores how race, gender, sexuality, and power affect the way we travel and explore the outdoors. Her work has been published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, Vox, and many others. In addition to her essay writing, she also facilitates workshops on anti-oppression and inclusive storytelling for organizations around the world including REI, Patagonia, HipCamp, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), University of California Berkeley, and many others. Amanda has a degree in English Literature and Nonfiction Writing from Brown University. After spending nearly a third of her twenties abroad, she is currently creating home in Oakland, California. You can learn more about her work on her website: www.amandaemachado.com.
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About the organizer
Amanda E. Machado is a writer and facilitator whose work explores how race, gender, power, and identity affect the way we travel and experience the outdoors. After teaching 9th grade English as a Teach for America corps member, she spent fifteen months backpacking South America, South Asia, Western Europe and the Western United States. Since then, she has written and facilitated on topics of social justice and adventure and lived in cities like Cape Town, Havana, Mexico City, Berlin, and Rio de Janeiro.
Amanda has been published in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, Vox, The Week, Outside, REI Co-Op Journal, Quartz, Sierra Magazine, Business Insider, and others, and has worked as a social justice editor for Matador Network, the world’s largest independent travel magazine. Her work has also been featured in the New York Times, NPR, National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, Longreads, Jezebel, the She Explores podcast, and several other publications, radio programs, and blogs.
In addition to her essay writing, Amanda also facilitates workshops on justice and anti-oppression for organizations around the world including REI, Patagonia, HipCamp, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), University of California Berkeley, and many others.
Amanda has a degree in English Literature and Nonfiction Writing from Brown University. After spending nearly a third of her twenties abroad, she is currently connecting to land in Oakland, California.