Created in 1989, the Inroads program was originally conceived as a “Seminary and Study Program for Writers of Color.” It offered three sections in its first year: one for African-American writers, one for Native writers, and one for writers of Chicano/Latino descent. In 1991, a section was added for writers whose heritage was Asian/Pacific Islander. In 1993, a section was added for gay, lesbian, and bisexual writers. Due to a major restructuring of funding priorities, the Dayton Hudson Foundation pulled financial support for Inroads in 2001, forcing the Loft to discontinue the program.
During the development of the 2007 – 2012 Loft Strategic Plan, staff and constituents vocalized a desire to reinstitute Inroads. As a result, in 2008 and 2009, a Latino and a Native America section were launched, offering emerging writers a chance once more to work on their craft alongside an established writing mentor from their community.
The writers chosen to participate in the 2009 Native American Cycle of the Loft Inroads Program were selected by mentor Gwen Griffin. They are: Jay Thomas Bad Heart Bull, Colleen Casey, Marisa Carr, Jon Hickey, Emily Johnson, and Alex Wanna. Winners Bios
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Gwen Griffin lives along the Minnesota River Valley in Mankato, not far from the village site of one of her ancestors, Yajopi. Her Dakota roots are deep in this landscape and reveal themselves in her artwork and her writing. She has worked as a proofreader, a waitress, an editor, a sandwich delivery driver, a technical writer, and a teacher. Her essays and poems have appeared in journals and books, and she has a forthcoming collection of poetry in Dakota and English, Follow the Blackbirds. Neither of her parents spoke English before they were sent away to boarding schools in Oklahoma and South Dakota, so she knows the importance of the role language plays in who we are. She is humbled to include Diane Glancy, Susan Power, and Louise Erdrich as her mentors. A graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Kansas, she is currently Professor in English at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
“As a former Loft Inroads participant," Gwen says, "I know how challenging and exhilarating it is to come together with other writers who share an indigenous worldview and to develop a stronger voice. Storytelling is part of our lives and can manifest itself in many ways—poetry, prose, painting, sculpture, song, fiber art. As creative people in this program, we will work to unleash our tongues and pens and creativity, learn from each other, and become even better writers. Process, practice, and patience will be our goals. I look forward to working with you!”
Check out the Native American Inroads Reading photos taken by Bao Phi on Thursday, September 3, 2009 at the Loft. Inroads Photos
The writers chosen to participate in the 2008 Latino Cycle of the Loft Inroads Program were selected by mentor Lorena Duarte. They are: Daniel Vidal Soto, poetry; Clara Younge, prose; Marsha West, prose; Vanina Orezzoli, prose; Shira Naharit, poetry; Anika Fajardo, fiction; David Andrew Rubalcava de Talamantes, fiction; and Lauren Wilwert, poetry. Winners Bios
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Lorena Duarte was born in El Salvador and raised in Minnesota, has contributed to and edited several books including ¿Under What Bandera? Anti-War Ofrendas from Minnesota y Califas and Telling Tongues (Calaca Press). She represented Minnesota at the Individual World Poetry Slam in Vancouver and competed at the National Poetry Slam in Texas. She is a member of Palabristas, a Latino poetry collective, and is an artist in residence with Young Audiences of Minnesota and Intermedia Arts. "As Latino writers," Lorena says," we have so much to play with, so much to defy, and to define. I often refer to my work as cross-cultural, multilingual migrations through love, war, politics, language, family and culture.
