Following the 1997 publication of the APLA anthology Letters from a Burning House (Harper Collins), the APLA Writers Group is creating a follow-up publication, Rising from the Ashes, with perspectives on HIV nearly 30 years after the original, with HIV no longer a death sentence.

The “APLA Writers: Rising from the Ashes Anthology Reading” is a work-in-progress reading of personal narratives and poems from the anthology, which seeks to grapple with the history of HIV while charting a new vision spearheaded by elders who lived rich lives through, despite, and in dialogue with the epidemic. The reading will focus on collaborative pieces created by two or more authors and will be led by the 2020-23 City of West Hollywood Poet Laureate, Brian Sonia-Wallace. The full list of participants will be available at the performance.

The reading will take place at APLA Gleicher/Chen Health Center, Baldwin Hills on Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 1-2:30 p.m.

This program may not be suitable for all ages.

Participants

Workshop leader Brian Sonia-Wallace is the 2020-23 West Hollywood Poet Laureate, an Academy of American Poets Fellow, and a Harper Collins author. He has run the APLA Health Writers Group for three years.

This reading is organized by Brian Sonia-Wallace as part of Circa: Queer Histories Festival 2024, presented by One Institute.

• 

  APLA Health restores dignity and trust within underserved communities by providing world-class LGBTQ+ empowering healthcare, HIV specialty care, food, housing and other essential support services.