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ReEntry Lab

@reentrylab.org
306 followers 818 following 287 posts

Building bridges between writers & other artists leaving incarceration and arts & literary communities ready to receive them. Based in Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota.

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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 16h
Last year the Minnesota Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans conducted a community needs assessment and the results are here! You can find out more about the study at mnqt.info/reports. Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey!
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 23/09/2026
Najeeba Syeed (she/her) - Najeeba’s first book of poetry, Dreaming Lost Bodies Back, was released a few months ago. She writes about lineages of loss and resilience. She is a professor of religion here in Minneapolis. (Alt text embedded.)
Photograph of Najeeba Syeed, an Asian American woman with light brown skin and dark eyes. In this photos, she's wearing a pink covering draped over her head and shoulders, a fuchsia top, large flat round yellow earrings, and lipstick. She looks at the camera with a serious expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 21/09/2026
KJ Kieras (they/them) is a writer and performer currently based in Minneapolis. They have performed slam poetry across the nation and are a three-time Midwest Poetry Mashup winner. Their work can be found in BeaverMag, Button Poetry, 45th Parallel, and Tinderbox Poetry Journal. (Alt text embedded.)
Photograph of KJ Kieras, a white nonbinary person performing at a mic with their arms stretched wide. In this photo, they're wearing black pants and a black leather jacket over a dark brown top; metallic jewelry; and short brown hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 19/09/2026
Marquise Bowie (he/him). Born and raised on the South Side of MPLS, MN. Son of the Most High. Father of two daughters Marquissa (26) Marquia (18). Grandfather of Makayla (2). Husband of Treva Bowie. Bonus kids Treionne, Isaiah, Mimi, Jeremiah, Xion and dog Angel. (Alt text embedded.)
Photograph of Marquise Bowie, a Black man. In this photo, he's wearing a long black-and-white beard, glasses, tan pants, black gloves, and a red fur-trimmed coat he's holding open to reveal a maroon sweatshirt with the words "Minnesota Strong." He's standing on a snowy street corner at George Floyd Square in South Minneapolis.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 17/09/2026
Wordsworth Prescott Musinguzi (b. 1991, he/him) is a Trans first-generation Ugandan-Liberian American documentary photographer and multidisciplinary artist based in Minneapolis, MN. A former music photojournalist and lifestyle blogger, his practice documents… (Alt text embedded.)
Photograph of Wordsworth Musinguzi, a Black man with medium-dark skin. In this photo, he has very close-cropped hair, a light mustache, some metal jewelry, and a serious expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 15/09/2026
@bridgetgordon.gay (she/her, fae/faer) is a queer trans woman and emerging poet living in Chicago. A former MFA student and sports journalist, her current work with poetry and short-form writing is enraptured with queer longing, identity, and liminality. … (Alt text embedded.)
Photograph of Bridget Gordon, a young white trans woman. In this photo, she's performing at a mic, eyes closed; she's wearing a wide-collared ripped black T-shirt with words beneath a black leather jacket, some metallic jewelry, and bright blue-and-purple bob-length hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 04/09/2026
Please join us on Tuesday, October 6th, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: @bridgetgordon.gay, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and @najeebasyeed.bsky.social, followed by an open mic. 1/4
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, October 6th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Bridget Gordon, Wordsworth Musinguzi, Marquise Bowie, KJ Kieras, and Najeeba Syeed.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
Khary Jackson (he/they/any) is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has been a recipient of generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Writing. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera.
Photograph of Khary Jackson, a Black man with medium-dark skin. In this photo, he's wearing narrow glasses, a mustache and short beard along chin and jawline, and a black jacket; his hair is pulled back out of focus and he's looking at the camera with a neutral expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet hailing from the land of ten thousand lakes. They are a post-conviction lawyer and circle keeper by day and moonlight as an aerialist teaching at Phoenix Flight Studio in Minneapolis. Beau believes that relationship is the locus of transformative change.
Photograph of Beau RaRa, a nonbinary person with light brown skin and medium-short auburn hair. In this photo, they are wearing a necklace, a patterned blue sleeveless shirt, and a distant smile.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
Moncies Franco (he/him) is a change agent with a passion for community transformation. As a 3rd generation incarcerated adult and a person living with a chronic illness, he is a champion for healthcare accessibility and equitable treatment for people directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
Photograph of Moncies Franco, a Latino man with light brown skin. In this photo, he's wearing a tightly trimmed mustache and chin beard, short black hair with shaved sides, and a light blue button-down shirt, and he's gazing at something off-camera.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
Hawti (she/her) is a poet from Minneapolis, doing poetry ever since starting out with TruArtSpeaks' Be Heard MN youth poetry slam series and BuckSlam monthly poetry slams.
Photograph of Hawti, a young Black woman with medium-dark skin. In this photo, she's wearing tightly coiffed hair, jeans, a long jacket over a crop top, and a necklace; she is reading off her phone and speaking into a microphone.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
Joel Hernandez (he/him) is a poet and book artist in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of 'Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir' (Borealis/Penguin) and 'war | machine' (Nine Chains Press) and his work has appeared in GQ, Granta, NYT Magazine, Rain Taxi, VQR, and other journals.
Photograph of Joel Hernandez, a middle-aged Latino man. In this photo, he's wearing glasses, a few days' growth of facial hair, short curly hair, and a brown jacket over a patterned blue-and-white button-down shirt. He has pale skin and is smiling.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/08/2026
One week to go! Please join us on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00pm, at @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson, followed by an open mic.
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 17/08/2026
Khary Jackson (he/they/any) is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has been a recipient of generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Writing. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera. 1/5
Photograph of Khary Jackson, a Black man with medium-dark skin. In this photo, he's wearing narrow glasses, a mustache and short beard along chin and jawline, and a black jacket; his hair is pulled back out of focus and he's looking at the camera with a neutral expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 15/08/2026
Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet hailing from the land of ten thousand lakes. They are a post-conviction lawyer and circle keeper by day and moonlight as an aerialist teaching at Phoenix Flight Studio in Minneapolis. Beau believes that relationship is the locus of transformative change. … 1/6
Photograph of Beau RaRa, a nonbinary person with light brown skin and medium-short auburn hair. In this photo, they are wearing a necklace, a patterned blue sleeveless shirt, and a distant smile.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 13/08/2026
Moncies Franco (he/him) is a change agent with a passion for community transformation. As a 3rd generation incarcerated adult, and a person living with a chronic illness; he has overcome the associated stigma and shame tied to those experiences to champion healthcare accessibility… 1/5
Photograph of Moncies Franco, a Latino man with light brown skin. In this photo, he's wearing a tightly trimmed mustache and chin beard, short black hair with shaved sides, and a light blue button-down shirt, and he's gazing at something off-camera.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 11/08/2026
@minnesotaj.bsky.social is a poet and book artist in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of 'Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir' (Borealis/Penguin) and 'war | machine' (Nine Chains Press) and his work has appeared in GQ, Granta, NYT Magazine, Rain Taxi, VQR, and other journals. 1/5
Photograph of Joel Hernandez, a middle-aged Latino man. In this photo, he's wearing glasses, a few days' growth of facial hair, short curly hair, and a brown jacket over a patterned blue-and-white button-down shirt. He has pale skin and is smiling.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, September 1st, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Joel Hernandez, Hawti, Moncies Franco, Beau Rara, and Khary Jackson.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 24/06/2026
Joe Davis (he/him) is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility. He is the founding director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, a wellness ecosystem  teaching body-centered practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater, film, … 1/7
Photograph of Joe Davis, a Black man with medium brown skin and black hair. In this photo, he's wearing a hat, a beard and mustache, and all-black clothes, including a T-shirt which says, "I just wanna make dope art and love my people."Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 22/06/2026
Desdamona (she/her) is an internationally known Spoken Word & Hip Hop artist who has traveled the US & abroad delivering her seamless mixture of Spoken Word, Hip Hop lyricism and melody to the stage for a dynamic & engaging performance. When she's not on stage… 1/8
Photograph of Desdamona, a middle-aged white woman with very long wavy brown hair. In this photo, she's on stage singing into a microphone and wearing a black top and a bracelet; behind her, a blurred background including another singer.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 20/06/2026
Tony Burgess (he/him) was a long-standing member of MPWW during 25-plus consecutive years of incarceration, and is a plumber by trade with a BA in Communication Studies and minors in Sociology and Business Management. … 1/6
Photograph of Tony Burgess, a white man with tanned skin. In this photo, he's got very short black-tending-to-silver hair, shaved on the sides, with a mustache and small goatee; he's wearing a dark blue jacket and stands in front of a window of words.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 18/06/2026
folaṣade (they/she) (b. 1992) is a blackqueer neuro/quirky poet, curator, and organizer concerned with the immediate survival and ongoing liberation of people of the global majority. intuitively guided by her ancestors, folaṣade nurtures a reverence for indigeneity and the erotic… 1/8
Photograph of folaṣade, a Black person with medium-dark skin. In this photo, they are wearing a lavender sweatshirt, thin necklace, large-framed glasses, and their hair up in a topknot. She has a satisfied smile and is in a room with books and art.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 16/06/2026
Nen G Ramirez (they/he) is a nonbinary Chicanx writer from Adrian, Michigan. They are the author of All Women Are Born Wailing (Black Lawrence Press, 2023), which was awarded the 2022 Acentos Book Prize. Ramirez received their MFA in poetry… 1/6
Photograph of Nen G Ramirez, a Chicanx person with light skin and black hair with green splashes. In this photo, they are sitting in a park; their face has multiple piercings and their eyelashes are enormous.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 03/06/2026
Please join us on Tuesday, July 7th, at 7:00pm, at @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis. For more info, see reentrylab.org/better-things/
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, July 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Nen G Ramirez, folaṣade, Tony Burgess, Desdamona, and Joe Davis.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 20/05/2026
Eemanna (she/her) is a Minneapolis born and based multidisciplinary artist and community organizer.  A singer song-writer and rapper spanning across genres of hip hop, alternative and soul, Eemanna is also a ceramicist and podcast producer. … 1/2
Photograph of Eemanna, a young Black woman with medium-dark brown skin. In this photo she's wearing a matched pair of stretch pants and bandeau with orange and black patterning, large hoop earrings, a nostril ring, and short natural hair.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 18/05/2026
Adrien Wright (they/them) is a poet, performer, and costume designer who lives and works in Minneapolis. Their poems have appeared in the Midway Journal and Selfish Magazine, as well as on stages at the Midwest Poetry Mash-Up, the NorthBEAST Regional Poetry Slam, … 1/2
Photograph of Adrien Wright, a nonbinary white person with dark brown hair. In this photo, they are wearing blue striped overalls and a red/white and blue/white striped shirt, a safety-pin necklace, and mid-length curly hair with two long pigtails. They're somewhere outside, with a rock formation in the background.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 16/05/2026
Willard Malebear Jr. (he/him) is an artist, community organizer, and creative wellness advocate based in Minneapolis. He is the founder and executive chairman of Art Shelf, a nonprofit that operates like a food shelf for art supplies, providing free creative materials, … 1/3
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 14/05/2026
Antonio Duke (he/him) is a Twin Cities based actor and playwright. He is the program director of The Ifẹ̀ (Ee-fay) Lab which is a fellowship highlighting black solo performing artists. The fellowship combines film and live performances culminating… 1/6
Photograph of Antonio Duke, a young Black man with medium-dark brown skin. In this photo, he's wearing short freshly trimmed hair, a trim goatee and mustache, and a long-sleeve black shirt. He's seated and smiling.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 12/05/2026
mk zariel (it/its + masc terms) is a transmasculine neuroqueer theater artist, Best Of The Net and Monarch Award nominated poet, movement journalist, and BashBack aligned anarchist. it is fueled by folk-punk, Emma Goldman, and existential dread. … 1/3
mk zariel's logo, a line drawing of a crouching fox superimposed on a square diagonally divided between black and pink.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, June 2nd, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: mk zariel, Antonio Duke, Willard Malebear Jr., Adrien Wright, and Eemanna.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 22/04/2026
Sabrin Nur (they/them) is an artist based in Minneapolis since 2014, currently serving in their second year of AmeriCorps national service, coaching and mentoring high school students on their postsecondary plans. Nur’s artistic practice weaves through many mediums, and they have worked… 1/6
Photograph of Sabrin Nur, a young Black person with dark skin and short black hair. In this photo, they have a wide smile and are wearing pearl necklaces and earrings and a purple garment with a purple head covering and a striped cloth over their left shoulder. Behind them are what look like blue stars on a black background, with a constellation tracing barely visible.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 20/04/2026
Armand McCoy (they/them), from Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a multidisciplinary artist whose passions intersect Holistic Healing, Black Liberation, and Environmental Justice. They have been studying healing modalities from all over the world, with a current focus on… 1/10
Photograph of Armand McCoy, a young Black man with medium-brown skin, short hair, and a short beard and mustache. In this photo he's wearing a light tan coat over a white T-shirt, a bandanna around his forehead, a ring on his middle finger, and a necklace. He's sitting in a vehicle and has a neutral expression.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 18/04/2026
Andre Anderson (he/him) is a justice‑impacted educator, writer, and graduate student whose work explores belonging, reentry, and the power of narrative to reshape public understanding. He serves as a Graduate Assistant in Metro State University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, … 1/6
Photograph of Andre Anderson, a white man with dark brown hair. In this photo he is wearing a wide smile, short hair, a short beard and mustache with sprinkles of gray, and a black T-shirt. He stands, arms slightly akimbo, in front of a blurred background.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 16/04/2026
Sana Wazwaz (she/her) is a Palestinian American writer and theater artist. Her work appears in Black Warrior Review, Water~Stone Review, Hayden's Ferry Review, The Ghassan Kanafani Anthology, Overtly Lit, and has been featured at the Colorado College Fine Arts Center’s Muslim Futurism exhibit…. 1/7
Photograph of Sana Wazwaz, a young Palestinian American woman with light brown skin. In this photo, she is wearing a purple hijab and a white top, smiling at the camera against a gray background.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 14/04/2026
Jennifer Marysia Landretti (she/her) writes poetry and essays. Her themes are nature, place, and spirit—and in recent years, gender, which has served as a vector to explore the former three.  Over the years her work has appeared in various literary publications, most regularly Orion magazine…
Photograph of Jennifer Landretti, a white woman with medium-short graying brown hair. In this photo, she's wearing a blue sleeveless top, a blue gaiter around her neck, and dark sunglasses, and is standing in dunes behind an ocean shore.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 10/04/2026
Please join us on Tuesday, May 5th, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, and Sabrin Nur. Each featured artist will take five minutes to share work. After the main reading, … 1/5
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, May 5th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Jennifer Landretti, Sana Wazwaz, Andre Anderson, Armand McCoy, Sabrin Nur.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 07/04/2026
Come join us *tonight* at Better Things - 7pm - @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social—we'd love to see you there! Featuring Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf. ASL interpretation; masks required at Moon Palace Books & available on-site. There Will Be Snacks 😁
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 25/03/2026
Nick Metcalf (they/them) is Sicangu Oyate – Burnt Thigh People – Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  Nick has lived in the Twin Cities for 30 years where they’ve made a life filled with lots of friends, family, and community.  Nick is a proud Parent and Grandparent…. (1/6)
Photograph of Nick Metcalf, a two-spirit American Indian. In this photo, they are wearing a striped collared shirt over a t-shirt and standing in front of a microphone with one hand raised.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 23/03/2026
Ben Westlie (he/him) is the author of Run From Your Now, a Minnesota Book Award Finalist in Poetry 2025. His poetry has appeared in DASH, The Fourth River, MUSE, Superpresent, ArLiJo, Atlas and Alice and The Talking Stick. 1/6
Photograph of Ben Westlie, a young white man with dark blond hair. In this photo, he wears short hair, a short scruff of beard and mustache, a wide smile, and a crimson velour T-shirt. He's standing, arms crossed, in front of an out-of-focus grassy field.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 21/03/2026
Isavela Lopez (she/her) is a multidisciplinary Indigenous artist, storyteller, and activist of Zapotec heritage from Oaxaca, Mexico. Based in the Twin Cities, she brings together her gifts in spoken word, writing, dance, and film to illuminate issues of cultural resilience, climate justice,… 1/9
Photograph of Isavela Lopez, a Latina woman with light brown skin and very dark hair. In this photo, she's wearing a white top with puffy sleeves, two necklaces, hand-crafted pendant earrings, a nose ring, and long wavy hair pulled to the back and side.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 19/03/2026
Suzanne Locke (she/her) is a writer, mother, grandmother, and a huge advocate for Raising Sisters, a support group for people previously incarcerated in the Shakopee facility. Originally from Bemidji, she now lives in Roseville, … 1/6
Photograph of Suzanne Locke, a white woman with long blond hair. In this photo she's wearing a black coat over a fuchsia top, two necklaces, a nose stud, and glasses propped on top of her head. She's got a wide smile and freckles.Slide containing text with biographical information (duplicated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 18/03/2026
Sagirah Shahid (she/her) is a pushcart prize nominated Black Muslim poet and performance artist from Minneapolis, MN. Her poetry and prose have been published in Mizna, Winter Tangerine, Prose Online, KHÔRA, Puerto Del Sol, Juked, Paranoid Tree, Parhelion, … 1/6
Photograph of Sagirah Shahid, a Black woman with light brown skin. In this photo, her hair is pulled back into a low bun; she's wearing thin gold framed glasses, a tan sweater over olive shirt, a gold necklace, and a skeptical expression. Behind her on the wall, a framed print with Arabic writing and an English phrase, "IT MATTERS WHERE YOU START - A NARRATIVE."Graphic containing text of the featured artist's bio.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 04/03/2026
Please join us on Tuesday, April 7th, at 7:00pm, at @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf. 1/5
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, April 7th, 2026, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Sagirah Shahid, Suzanne Locke, Isavela Lopez, Ben Westlie, and Nick Metcalf.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 18/02/2026
Raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota’s historic Rondo neighborhood, Lt. Sunnie (she/her) is a powerhouse in the Midwest music scene with over a decade of experience. She has headlined major events across the region, delivered charged up halftime show performances, completed a milestone 10-stop tour, 1/9
Photograph of Lt. Sunnie, a Black woman with medium brown skin and very long braided hair descending from both sides. In this photo she's wearing a leather-look top over white collared shirt, silver necklace, large earrings, and a huge smile.Text slide repeating biographical information from post.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 16/02/2026
Lester Batiste (he/him) is a savage writer in living color who writes for political, social, economic change and Black futures. Born in Chicago, IL, he holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast writing program, and an M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. 1/8
Photograph of Lester Batiste, a Black man with dark skin, very short hair, and a trim beard and mustache. In this picture he's wearing a tan suit with pocket square, white shirt, gold watch, stud earrings, and two rings, and he's got a serious expression as he looks into the camera.Text slide containing biographical information (repeated in text).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 14/02/2026
Cecily McMillan (all pronouns) is a social justice organizer, political consultant, and published author. After enduring a Kafkaesque trial following her arrest at Occupy Wall Street in 2012, she served 58 days at Rikers Island. Since their release, McMillan has become… 1/8
Photograph of Cecily McMillan, a Latine person with light skin and dark brown hair. In this picture she's wearing a sweater vest, earrings and red lipstick, and shows her teeth in not quite a smile.Text slide containing biographical information (repeated in post).Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 12/02/2026
Ashembaga (Ashe) Jaafaru (ashe or she/her) is an actor + dancer + writer + producer + director who creates art for liberation of the mind, body and SPIRIT. As the founder of Little Creatures, she will continue to write + produce imaginative stories. Upcoming productions include… 1/5
Photograph of Ashe Jaafaru, a Black woman with dark skin, wide eyes, and full lips; in this photo she's wearing short, curly, two-toned hair, nose piercings, earrings, and a gold multi-ring collar. She stares at the camera with a calm expression.Graphic contains text of bio.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 10/02/2026
Rosetta Peters (she/her) is a Dakota poet, an author, a public speaker, and an activist. A procrastinator to the point of detriment and lover of the natural world. 🎤 Please join us on Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:00pm, at Moon Palace Books, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring 5 fantastic artists: 1/4
Photograph of Rosetta Peters, a Dakota woman with medium brown skin and long black hair. In this picture, she is wearing a navy blazer over a navy shirt, a sliced-stone pendant, and pendant earrings; in the background is a weathered wooden fence.Rosetta Peters (she/her) is a Dakota poet, an author, a public speaker, and an activist. A procrastinator to the point of detriment and lover of the natural world.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 06/02/2026
12th Annual Transformative Justice and Abolition Criminology Conference: February 13th, 2026. Panel of scholar-activists, artist-philosophers, poets, and abolitionists discussing a wide range of topics. Register: savethekidsgroup.org/feb-13-2026-... FB event page: www.facebook.com/share/1AM1cX...
Promo graphic with text, which reads "12th Annual Transformative Justice and Abolition Criminology Conference, February 13, 2026. Via Zoom, public, free, and recorded. Register at https://savethekidsgroup.org."
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 06/02/2026
Please join us on Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:00pm, at @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social, for our next 5×5 Reading, featuring five fantastic artists: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie. Each featured artist will take five minutes to share work. 1/5
Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, March 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 21/01/2026
Isha Camara (she/her) is a Gambian-American poet and visual artist from South Minneapolis, Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Masters at Randolph College in Creative Writing. Her work has been featured in MUZZLE Magazine, Poets.org and… 1/6
Photograph of Isha Camara, a dark-skinned Black woman. In this photo she is wearing a black top, dark denim pants, and a patterned black-and-white hijab. She is seated in front of a red background. Her eyes are surrounded by colored stars and she has a serious expression, looking directly at the camera.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, February 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Ari Tison, BakiBakiBaki, Jeffrey Dorr-Slowey, Heid E. Erdrich, and Isha Camara.
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ReEntry Lab @reentrylab.org · 19/01/2026
Author of nine books of poetry and prose Heid E. Erdrich (she/her) is a curator and teacher. Erdrich edited the anthology New Poets of Native Nations and co-edited the newly published Boundless: Abundance in Native American Art and Literature. She served as the inaugural Minneapolis Poet… 1/7
Photograph of Heid E. Erdrich, a light-skinned Ojibwe woman. In this photo, taken outdoors in front of a blurry winter background, she stares at the camera, and wears long reddish, brown, and white hair; a maroon turtleneck; long beaded earrings; and a slight smile.Text slide bearing words "For more: follow @reentrylab. better-things.org. reentrylab.org" and logos for the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.Flyer with text reading: “Better Things - a 5x5 reading for social change - the reading everybody will be talking about the next day. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, February 3rd, 2025, 7 pm.” Small photos of each of five readers, labeled by name: Ari Tison, BakiBakiBaki, Jeffrey Dorr-Slowey, Heid E. Erdrich, and Isha Camara.
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