Maryland Humanities is proud to announce that Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of the 2024 One Maryland One Book selection What Storm, What Thunder will appear at multiple events across Maryland this fall.
All events are free and open to the public, unless noted.
October 12, 2024
OMOB Author Talk
w/ Audience Q&A and Book Signing
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern
The Writer’s Center
Allan Lefcowitz Theater
4508 Walsh St
Bethesda MD 20815
For a live, in-person author event, Myriam J. A. Chancy will discuss her process and thoughts that went into the writing of What Storm, What Thunder with the public, before opening up to audience Q&A and book signing after the event. The event will be moderated by Edith Michel of the Woodrow Wilson House Museum.
More Information
I have been in my role as Senior Manager of Education and Collections at the Woodrow Wilson House Museum, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site in Washington DC for a year and a half. I believe Museums have a social justice role and I consider myself a “Griot for Social Justice”. Over the past year and a half, I have welcomed the opportunity to help shape a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion narrative about President Woodrow Wilson. I enjoy activating our tagline, “Historic Perspectives, Modern Initiatives,” bringing new “Voices” to the table. It’s a call to action to develop current and new conversations and perspectives on the legacy of President Woodrow Wilson and First Lady Edith Wilson. I appreciate the opportunity to build a more just society, create more empathy, by bridging the gaps in knowledge and perceptions that people have. Guided by principles of inclusion, collaboration, and urgency, my focus is on telling stories that have been underrepresented at the museum. In doing so, I try to serve the public in an open, passionate, experimental, contemplative, and conversational way.
A daughter of Haitian immigrants, I am also committed to elevating the immigrant voices in our communities, and activating a more nuanced understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion. I am a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and a National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretation Guide. My professional portfolio also includes serving the six-time Gold Medal Award winning bi-county recreation and leisure agency serving both Montgomery and Prince George’s Maryland, a regional urban and suburban community of nearly 2 million people. My work experience spanned both counties supporting the mission and vision as a community planner, a curator, and special events coordinator in support of cultural and heritage month activities in the Washington Metropolitan Area. I also served as a management administrator supporting business outcomes including accreditation, program planning, evaluation and financial sustainability.
The Writer’s Center supports writers and everyone who wants to write! Every year we offer hundreds of creative writing workshops in all genres and for all experience levels, dozens of free events for writers, and countless opportunities to connect with the Washington DC and national literary communities. Find our more at https://writer.org/
Public parking is available directly across Walsh Street from The Writer’s Center in a county parking lot. The meters in this lot are effective Monday through Saturday, 9:00am – 10:00pm. Meters accept payment through the ParkMobile app. Please note that The Writer’s Center is not able to make change for meters. Additional pay parking is available in the Capital Crescent Garage (7171 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814), just a 5-minute walk from the Center.
Metro: The Writer’s Center is a ten-minute walk south from the Bethesda Metro station (Red Line).
Ride On Bus: Several nearby bus stops along Wisconsin Avenue are served by the Ride On 34 route.
October 12, 2024
OMOB VIP Author Reception
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza
The Ellsworth Room
1 Veterans Pl
Silver Spring, MD 20910
This spectacular evening features author Myriam J. A. Chancy, as well as leaders and community members committed to heritage, culture, and the future of Maryland. Your $75 ticket purchase supports Maryland Humanities in our work towards community building, storytelling, and cultural preservation throughout our state. Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a meet-and-greet with Chancy, and a signed copy of What Storm, What Thunder.
October 13, 2024
OMOB Author Event (Eastern Shore)
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Museum of Eastern Shore Culture
218 W Main St
Salisbury, MD 21801
Myriam J. A. Chancy will appear as part of an community event in Salisbury, Maryland. Come to gather, meet, and discuss the issues important to this community and how it relates to What Storm, What Thunder. Details to come.
More Information
The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture cultivates the preservation and expression of the cultural heritage and traditional arts of Delmarva’s various communities. The Museum is set to open in late 2024.
October 14, 2024
High School Writers’ Fiction Seminar with the Author
Time 11 AM to 1 PM
Maryland Humanities Offices
3600 Clipper Mill Rd
Baltimore MD 21211
In a special engagement for budding high school writers, Myriam J. A. Chancy will lead a small seminar on the craft fo fiction, drawing from ideas and prompts drawn from the narrative elements of What Storm, What Thunder.
The event will take place on Monday, October 14, 2024 (federal US holiday).
We invite applications from students as self-nominations and high school educators to students to attend this event. Space is limited.
Teachers, schools, and students are responsible for coordinating transport to and from the event as well as arranging parent/guardian permissions. A small travel stipend will be made available.
Please sign up using the form below.
September 5, 2024
OMOB 2024 Virtual Kickoff
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern
Online/Virtual
Maryland Humanities invites you to a virtual event with Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of What Storm, What Thunder, in a transdisciplinary conversation with a panel of Haitian writers, scholars, and thinkers, who will set the stage for how readers can consider Haiti’s past, present, and future as they read along through the fall. Audience Q&A will follow.
Panel:
- Dr. Mamyrah Prosper (Moderator)
- Dr. Sabine Lamour
- Dr. Ermion Pierre
- Dr. Marie-José Nzengou-Tayo
This event will be held in English, with Haitian Creole audio interpretation.
If you’re planning to use What Storm, What Thunder for your library, school, or book club, this event will be a wonderful way to learn more before your own discussion. Such conversations give helpful and engaging insight into how the writer crafted their work and what they intended, preparing us to read thoughtfully and analytically.
This event is presented in partnership with the Haitian Studies Association and University of Florida Center for Latin American Studies..
This event has passed.
Panelist Information
Mamyrah Dougé-Prosper is an Assistant Professor of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Irvine. She is also the director of the Center for Racial Justice at UCI. Dougé-Prosper’s work generally focuses on Black social movements. More specifically, her research centers around protest movements in 21st century Haiti. Dougé-Prosper has published in political magazines such as Black Agenda Report, LeftEast, Phenomenal World and NACLA as well as academic journals such as Women’s Studies Quarterly, International Studies Review, Kafou, PoLAR, and the Journal of Haitian Studies. She is completing her first manuscript titled “Development Arrested in Occupied Haiti: Social Movements, NGOs and the Neoliberal State.”
Dr. Ermion Pierre is a public health scientist, registered nurse, and professional coach with nearly two decades of experience specializing in mental health, energy medicine, program design, implementation, and evaluation. As the founder of the Essentia Center for Integrative Health, Dr. Pierre employs an integrative approach to health and healing, focusing on helping individuals manage diseases and heal from trauma.
Since experiencing personal tragedy in the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti, she has dedicated herself to helping people overcome past trauma and alleviate emotional and physical pain. Her extensive training in alternative therapies, including energy healing and integrative nutrition, complements her work in developing and implementing public health strategies.
Dr. Pierre has notably managed the State Tobacco Prevention and Control Program for Maine. She also has a rich background as a health educator, coaching immigrant women on safe sex practices, guiding youth and adults in managing pain, processing grief, and alleviating anxiety and depression due to HIV/AIDS. Her unique blend of professional expertise and intuitive understanding makes her exceptionally qualified to help people achieve emotional and physical well-being.
Dr. Pierre is also the author of the self-published book “Mind-Body Reconnection: Four Steps to Recalibrate Your Mind, Increase Your Energy, and Restore Your Health.
Be sure to check with your local institutions, including libraries, to find a program related to What Storm, What Thunder near you and join in on the cultural dialogue!