Janet Aalfs

Janet E. Aalfs is the author of 3 full-length books of poems and several small press and self-published chapbooks. Her writing is widely published in journals, anthologies, and online, most recently in Soundings East (Pushcart Prize nomination), How to Write a Form Poem, Words to Live By, Compass Roads, and Emulate. Former poet laureate of Northampton, MA (2003-2005), 8th degree black belt, master Tai Chi instructor, and founder/director of Lotus Peace Arts at Heron’s Bridge, Janet is the recipient of a Leadership and Advocacy in the Arts Award from the University of Massachusetts. She received an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College, and has been a featured presenter at many events and conferences including the Dodge Poetry Festival; the Mass Poetry Festival; Split This Rock; Power of Words Transformative Language Association; the Hudson Valley Writers Center, and performing arts teaching exchanges in Cape Town, South Africa. Janet has been offering interdisciplinary arts education rooted in feminist social justice activism locally, nationally, and internationally since 1977. www.heronsbridge.org