Official Unofficial bio:Meredith Karen Laskow is the Poet Laureate of Placentia (California) Library District, a jewelry designer and artist, exercise teacher for cancer survivors, alleged house decorator, and website junkie. She lives in a beige stucco townhome in non-beachfront Southern California Tract Housing Suburbia, where she raises wild lizards and cacti.
Favorite quote:
"My sense of humor, like my cooking, is an acquired taste -- and so far I seem to be the only one who's acquired it."
Featured Speaking Engagements:
Gathering of California Community Poets Laureate
April 2-3, 2008 in Sacramento
Poetry reading
Panel discussion about the challenge of running a community poet laureate program
California Special Districts Association
Annual convention, September 2006
Breakout session leader (with Jim Roberts)
""Poetry, Programs, and Community"
California Poets Laureate Project
August 2006 at Frank Bette Center for the Arts
A one-day event that will evolve into of a traveling program featuring poetry, photography and art work showcasing California's state and local Poets Laureate.
This photography (part of the project) is by Rhonda Leon.
California Federation Of Chaparral Poets
Annual convention, April 2005
Panel of four Poets Laureate
overview of our Poet Laureate programs
El Rancho Charter School, Anaheim California
April 2004
"History of Poets Laureate, Programs at Placentia Library, and poetry reading
To tie in with National Poetry Month, I was invited by Mr. Gordon Pitts, English teacher at El Rancho Charter School, to address his students -- 218 of them! -- throughout the day.
and numerous "Featured Poet" gigs at various venues throughout California
Poetry Programs at Placentia Library (which I led or facilitated)
Inaugural reading and address
Teen Poetry Workshop
Senior Outreach (bringing poetry into local Senior Centers and Assisted Living Centers)
America's Favorite Poem Project (started by Robert Pinsky)
half-day Adult Poetry Workshops, led by distinguished California poets
themed Open Readings
Cowboy Poetry Workshop
Pot Luck Poetry
and I also created the first data base for California municipal-level Poets Laureate, a project since taken over by Cynthia Bryant, and one of the many cornerstones behind the current California Poets Laureate project.
upcoming:
Poetry In Translation
Saturday June 14, 2008, 1-3 pm
a reading and discussion of poems written by authors around the world
I am available to lead workshops or seminars in any of the above topics, related topics, or breast Cancer Awareness programs (see page Upcoming Book) I also do select Featured Poet readings. References available. Call/ write/ email for further details.
Paper correspondence:
Meredith Laskow
P.O. Box 673
Placentia, CA 92871
phone: (714) 524-5913
24/7 answering machine. If you want to speak to a live person, your best odds are calling weekdays after 10 a.m. California time.
 | To contact me in any non-spam capacity -- email: meredith (at) meredithlaskow (dot) com |
My other websites:
exclusive hand-crafted jewelry:
www.meredithbead.com
jewelry and findings:
http://members.tripod.com/meredithbead-ivil
findings and beads:
http://meredithbead-ivil.tripod.com/findings
meredithbead newsletter:
http://meredithbead.tripod.com/news