ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book exists thanks to the endless patience and hard work of Sophia Janowitz, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Jan Kawamura-Kay, Philip McCaffrey, Alex Kryger, Laura Lamb Brown-Lavoie, Derrick Brown, Anis Mojgani, the Serenbe Artists in Residency Program, and the editors and team at Write Bloody Publishing.

These poems exist thanks to the support and mentorship of the NYC Urbana Poetry Slam, the Bowery Poetry Club, all the poets of the New York City poetry community (but especially Taylor Mali, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Jeanann Verlee, and Rives), Frank Banton, Maureen Overall, Richard Kutner, Sheila Desmond, Providence poets (especially Franny Choi and Laura Lamb Brown- Lavoie), and the Pink Door Poetry Retreat.

These illustrations exist thanks to the insight and generosity of Sarah Wainwright, Joel Janowitz, Anne Lilly, Mark Ostow, Jan Kawamura-Kay, Jeffrey Kay, Marianna Pease, Andrew Bellisari, Marissa Grunes, Gloria O’Leary, Peter Tagiuri, and Mandy, Terry, Marina, and Rebecca Hopkins.

These adventures exist thanks to the guidance and encouragement of Project VOICE, Jeffrey Kay and the speakeasynyc YouTube channel, the TED community, Jacqueline Novogratz, Kelly Stoetzel, Chris Anderson, Seth Godin, Red Maxwell, Jean Oelwang, Anthony Veneziale, Carlos Andrés Gómez, Beau Sia, Rostam Afshinnekoo, Thomas Siefring, Lea Rangel-Ribeiro, Victor Ribeiro, the AT&T New Media Fellowship, Maggie Sarin, Arati Kaul, the Word Warriors of Kathmandu, the READ book group, the United Nations International School, Church Street School for Music and Art, and my students (at Hope, Classical, and all the other schools that I love).

This dream exists thanks to the faith and love of family (Kawamuras, Kays, Suzukis, Wainwrights, Janowitzs, Ferril-McCaffreys, Hsia- Schonzeits, Carson-Mordetskys), and friends (Sophia Janowitz, James Schonzeit, Tim Adams, Caroline Kissane, Tatiana Gellein, Phil Kaye, Emily Borromeo, Kayla Ringelheim, Alex Kryger, and all the Higher Keys).

This girl exists entirely because of Mom, Pop, and PK. Genji, June, Stewart, and Sylvia. And Lion and Blankie.