Letter From The Director
Kathryn Green Lectures Ángel García by Livvy Fore
Dear Alums, We couldn’t be any more excited to welcome you back to Johnston in February. This issue of the Coz has some info on the 50th Renewal as well as all the usual fun stories about what’s been happening in Johnston this fall. If you haven’t registered for the 50th, consider this an electronic “tag, you’re it!” Let us know which events you plan to attend so that we can make this a great Renewal. If you can’t make it to Renewal, we will miss you - and, we would be remiss not to remind you that you can support current and future Johnston endeavors by making a gift to one of our Johnston funds, joining the new Johnston Alumni Network, or helping us identify the next generation of Johnston students. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Cheers, Julie Registration for Renewal is open! Go to www.redlands.edu/johnstonat50 to register and find all the information you need about the 50th.
On a cool Tuesday evening in late October (the 23rd, to be exact), a smattering of Johnston students shuffled into Holt Lobby to listen to alum, poet and community organizer, Ángel García (class of ‘04, Emphasis: Color of American Poetics and Prose) give a Kathryn Green lecture. Garcia read from his first published book of poetry, Teeth Never Sleep–newly released and already the winner of the distinguished CantoMundo Poetry Prize.Garcías lecture managed to generate enough enthusiasm amongst students to fill the lobby, despite it having been a mere hour after a long and arduous community meeting––a true testament to García’s sway. In between readings of his poems like “Lobe” and the title poem “Teeth Never Sleep,” García shared personal anecdotes about his concerns regarding the current state of the university’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion, as he recollected how powerful that space had been for him as a young student of color on campus. He encouraged students to organize, stating that he believes there is power in numbers and that students multiply their power when they organize together. García’s poems were merciless recollections of his own toxic masculinity. García spoke of his journey to confront the damage he had done to the women in his life through his poetry. He also shared his experiences organizing communities in Los Angeles after graduating. It was in LA that he found another post-Johnston community that granted him the strength to painstakingly address his position as a man, while also seeking to empower himself and other marginalized peoples.
Ángel García’s casual eloquence was a moving example of redemption and empowerment.