New California Literature at California Studies Conference

I'm organizing a "New California Literature: Breaking into the Future" panel

with Judy Juanita, Rip Rense, and Owen Hill
at the California Studies Conference in Berkeley April 12, 1:45-3:15.

I wanted to present work that is innovative and shows a path into future literature.
So why these three?

Judy Juanita is a brilliant poet/playwright/novelist who has 11 plays produced.
She's also a stunning performance poet whose poem "Bling" tells who fought for African-
American freedom so the present generation can have bling. She lives in Oakland.

Rip Rense is a journalist, record producer, and novelist whose 2nd novel "The Oaks"
tells how a teenage boy struggles to survive the collapse of his middle class
suburban family by identifying with California's native oaks. He lives in Los Angeles.

Owen Hill is a Berkeley poet who has published six books of poetry, a book of
short stories, and a brilliant mystery novel "The Chandler Apartments" set in
contemporary Bay Area. He's from Berkeley.

Everyone is inviting both to the New California Literature panel and the whole conference.


>
>The California Studies Association, in conjunction with the California
>Studies Center at UC Berkeley, and the Institute for Research on Labor and
>Employment,
>
>       Presents the 18th Annual California Studies Conference:
>
>
>           Changing Climates: Class, Culture, and Politics
>                    in an Era of Global Warming
>
>
>                         April 11-13, 2008
>
>                      Berkeley City College
>                        2050 Center Street
>
>
>                  Keynote address by Matt Gonzalez
>                      7pm, Friday, April 11th
>                 Wine and cheese reception to follow
>
>
>                Luncheon address by Jackie Goldberg
>                   12:30, Saturday, April 12th
>
>
>Saturday night entertainment by Ian Ruskin, performing “From Wharf Rats to
>      Lords of the Docks: The Life and Times of Harry Bridges."
>
>
>Panels on: Coping with Climate Change, Working in a Green Economy,
>Immigration, Community Organizing in Silicon Valley, Green Media, In
>Praise of Taxes, People & Water, Arts & Activism, New California Literature,
and more.
>
>Speakers: Rick Wartzman, Margaret Gordon, Peter Schrag, Raquel
>Pinderhughes, Judy Juanita, Owen Hill, Rip Rense, Tom Athanasiou, Sasha
>Abramsky, David Bacon, Richard Walker, Norman Miller, and more
>
>
>For additional information, go to:
>http://geography.berkeley.edu/ProjectsResources/californiastudies.html
>
>Conference contact: Lindsey Dillon at changingclimates@gmail.com.
>