MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center and the Resilience Project are hosting a writer’s workshop and poetry reading featuring Lake County poet laureate emeritus and poetry slam champion Russell Reza-Khaliq Gonzaga on Sunday, Dec.10.

The writing workshop takes place from noon to 5 p.m. and the reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the art center, located at 21456 Highway 175.

The cost of the workshop is just $5 as part of the Resilience Project. Suggested donation for the evening reading is $5 to $10.

The sixth poet laureate of Lake County, Gonzaga is an esteemed member of the art and healing communities.

Gonzaga was displaced by the Valley fire. He is traveling from Sierraville to Lake County to facilitate the workshop, and to both be featured in and host the poetry reading.

He is a former resident and employee of Harbin Hot Springs, which was decimated in the Valley fire, and is currently being rebuilt.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Oakland/East Bay, Gonzaga is a Dervish, minister, writer, freelance journalist, editor, social justice activist, teacher, youth mentor and martial artist.

“Giving expression and voice to our grief, rage, hopes and joys serve the healing of the individual, and in turn, the community,” said Gonzaga.

Gonzaga says that the Dec 10 workshop will focus on the lyrical aspects of writing and the tools of verbal presentation.

The poetry reading that evening will feature Gonzaga along with current Lake County Poet Laureate Julie Adams, and local poets Casey Carney, Vicente Colacion, Sam Flot, Georgina Marie and Elaine Watt. Calistoga poet Kate Hawk also will be presenting her work.

Participants in the workshop may present at the reading, and there will be a limited open mic (early sign-up is recommended).

Sponsored in part by the California Arts Council and Adventist Health, The Resilience Project offers low cost ($5) workshops in photography, poetry/written and spoken word, painting and printmaking that cycle through the first through fourth Saturdays of each month until May 2018, at Middletown Art Center.

Adults of all ages and teens 12 and up are invited to join one or many Resilience workshop sessions. All levels of experience from novice to professional are welcome.

Space is limited so please preregister at www.MiddletownArtCenter.org/classes.

The poetry/written and spoken word workshops usually take place every second Saturday of the month.

Due to Christmas in Middletown festivities on Dec. 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. – which include the MAC Members Holiday Show Opening Reception and MAC’s Art Market – the workshop is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10.

Anyone wishing to participate in Resilience workshops or future readings and events can contact the Middletown Art Center at 707-809-8118, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the MAC Web site at www.MiddletownArtCenter.org.