My Nonprofit Reviews

I attended OSAI at Quartz Mountain for three years as a student in the 90s and the fall institute for educators as an English professor years later. As a young writing student, I learned extremely valuable lessons not just about my craft but about my role as an artistic citizen and about the discipline required of professional artists. Interacting with and learning from world-renowned professionals at that age gave me confidence that I lacked and made me feel more at home in the wider world as a Native American student from a very rural community.

I went on to get a doctorate in creative writing (poetry), and I was well-prepared for th experience of upper level writing workshops because of my Quartz Mountain experience. When I attended the fall institute as a professor and writer, I found myself invigorated and revived as an artist, just as I had when I was a young student.

The Oklahoma Arts Institute is one of the most valuable experiences I have had as a person and artist. I am so grateful that it is in my home state, and I hope it will continue to sustain our arts community for many years to come.