We Are - .:Seeds:. Literary Arts Journal

When I first started at Northeastern, a little over two years ago, I was elated that there was a venue to publish some of my creative work. As a poet and essayist, I was looking for a place to display my art as well as gather with other students who saw the value in art and its importance within academia. My elation turned sour fast, after my partner Janean and I turned in some of our creative work and didn't get a response from the then literary arts journal known as "American Goat".

We asked around and found out that the journal was officially defunct and that there was "little interest" in restarting it. Well, this sounded a bit like a challenge to me and anyone who knows Janean and I find out quickly that we don't back away from too many challenges. .:Seeds:., once the idea and effort of Janean L. Watkins, has now grown to become the accepting and nurturing spot for budding artist. We are a non-elitist spot where university students, professors, and community members can plant the seeds of their future within the vast writing and visual arts community. For the novice writer and visual artist, Seeds exist as an organization that can help one build upon their current knowledge and received positive feedback and critique.

For the seasoned writer it's a safe space to grow and teach what you know to your peers, when you educate – you learn. I have learned so much from the other student writers and visual artists. I continue to be blown away by their many efforts to show the diversity of humanity within their creative work. This year, our efforts will focus on broadening the scope and reach of the journal. This upcoming winter journal will include a greater variety of visual art and written work – as we grow so does our artistry. This past summer, through the efforts of our members and executive board, .:Seeds:. was strategically placed throughout Chicago, Canada, Australia, Russia, and Greece. Talk about "learning in the city and leading in the world"! Women and Children First bookstore in Chicago and The Book Table in Oak Park agreed to carry our journal. During their summer book sale, Women and Children First handed out a free copy of .:Seeds:. to the first hundred customers purchasing their books. All proceeds went to charity. We value art, and more importantly, we value the artist. This year .:Seeds:. is also sponsoring some awesome and inspiring campus events.

On October 11th, 2011 we will have out first ".:Seeds on the Soap Box:." series, from 1pm – 5pm in Village Square. In the spirit of literary geniuses before us, and honoring the historic implications of soap box lectures, this will be a space which encourages students as they boldly state the political and personal that impacts their lives. Make sure to bring your money! We will have some very delectable desserts made by our hard working Members. Finally, at each of our "Journal Launches" have some very special speakers and guests. For our Winter Journal Launch, November 11th, 2011, noted Poet and HIV activist Avery R. Young will provide a show that can't be beat. During Women's History Month, Professor Lucy Anne Hurston – a biographer and niece of Harlem Renaissance era author Zora Neale Hurston will be our keynote speaker for our Spring Journal Launch, March 16th, 2012. Lucy Anne Hurston is a Professor of Sociology at Manchester Community College in Manchester, Connecticut and the author of a family biography on the life of Zora Neale Hurston entitled "Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neal Hurston". For more information on how to get involved please, feel free to contact us at: seeds-info@neiu.edu.

Rachel Deahl – Vice President/Fiction Editor Hi, I'm the Vice-President and Fiction Editor of this budding Literary Arts Journal. I am an English/Secondary Education major at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) with an ambition to be a paid, published author. I started at NEIU in Fall 2010 looking to be a part of something great and I found it in this literary journal. As a close-knit group of students, we form ideas into actions by promoting events such as "More Business of Being Born" with Ricki Lake talking about birthing activism, in addition to creating an artistic community for the student body through publication in our journal. I have graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Literature (with honors) from Wilbur Wright College - One of the City Colleges of Chicago in Fall of 2009 before transferring to NEIU. I was a part of The Wright Side, the literary magazine at Wright College, as a layout designer, officer, and literary editor. I have been an amateur writer of fiction and poetry since my creative writing classes at Lane Tech, my writing has been previously published in The Wright Side, 2501 as well as a poem entry in last year's .:Seeds:. Literary Arts Journal of NEIU. I am a member of the International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta, a Council of Clubs Representative (COC) of SGA, a pending member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and was also honored with the Meritorious Award Certificate for English: Howard Wilcox Award on April 2010 from the Wright College English Department, the Certificate of Achievement – CAAP: Critical Thinking and Writing Essay in 2008 from Wright College. In Spring and Fall 2011 I have been accepted for the English Publications Talent Scholarship from the English department of NEIU. Joining .:Seeds:. is another step in my writing career where I get to collaborate with great creative minds. Currently I work part-time atNEIU's Cashier's Office helping students make payments towards school tuition. 

Patricia Dalinis – Secretary/Editor My name is Patricia Dalinis and I am the Secretary of Seeds Literary Arts Journal. My main duties in the organization as Secretary are to make the fliers, take minutes at the meetings, and notify the authors of their acceptance into the journal. I also work with Seeds as a Fiction Editor, which means I get to read all kinds of amazing submissions. Outside of Seeds, I'm also President of Sigma Tau Delta, NEIU's English Honors Society. Participating in Seeds has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. I've really enjoyed working with such a hardworking and dedicated team. It's truly been an inspiration for me. I look forward to all the great events we have planned, especially both our Journal Releases. NEIU has a lot of talent, and Seeds provides the perfect outlet for the students and community to get their work published. I'm just grateful to be a part of it. Linda Monacelli – Treasurer/Editor Hello! My name is

Linda Monacelli, and I am a junior at NEIU studying English, Secondary Education. I am proud to be the treasurer and one of the staff editors of .:Seeds:., and I hope to help make the journal grow and thrive. I want to help bolster .:Seeds:. as an organization that seriously values the creative voices of our immediate and broader urban community.