Meet the Readers: Stafford Challenge Anthology Reading

Brian Rohr is a poet, writer, and performative storyteller based in Beaverton, OR. He is the founder and director of The Stafford Challenge, an international poetry project inspired by the legendary William Stafford, which has encouraged over a thousand participants to write a poem every day for a year. His writing has appeared in Blink Ink, The Words Faire, and the Jewish Literary Journal, along with several anthologies. As a storyteller and performative poet, Rohr has taught and performed at major conferences, high schools, universities, synagogues, libraries, and in solo concerts. His debut book, Shaken to My Bones: A Poetic Midrash on the Torah, was published by Ben Yehuda Press in 2024. His work explores mythology, mysticism, ecology, and the transformative power of story. Learn more at brianrohr.com | staffordchallenge.com 

Trina Gaynon previously volunteered for literacy programs and WriteGirl in California. Currently, she leads a group of poetry readers and a writing salon at the Senior Studies Institute in Portland and participates in the Ars Poetica community. Her poems appear in a number of journals and anthologies, including The Grace of Oregon Rain. Published volumes include An Alphabet of Romance from Finishing Line and Quince, Rose, Grace of God from Fernwood Press. 

Quigley Provost-Landrum is an actor and writer living in Portland, OR. 

Lisa Kagan is a writer, artist, creative facilitator, and personal historian. Lisa has published two books of original poetry and art, Coming Home to Myself (2021) and Emergence (2009). She is the co-founder of Touchstone Retreats, offering writing and art retreats throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her business, Family Heirloom Arts, is dedicated to helping people celebrate their life stories and significant life milestones through creating illustrated heirloom books. Lisa believes in the transformative nature of the creative process to heal, empower, challenge, inform, and awaken the human spirit. Learn more at: https://familyheirloomarts.com 

Yohanna Storm has been a poet since about the age of six. She also writes short stories and has a novel in progress. She is thrilled to be part of the Stafford Challenge poetry project.

Gail Hathaway Tupper moved around a lot as a child and found companionship in poets and poetry. She’s written 118 volumes of journals, and lots and lots of poems. A teacher for 31 years, Gail is now retired, living and writing in Portland, OR. 

Christina Larsen is a retired nurse and lover of words. Her book, My Own Darling, was published by Wildflower Press (2017). 

Jennifer Pratt-Walter (she/her) is a Crone who finds awe in the simple daily miracles of life. She is a professional harpist, poet, and hobbyist photographer. She has had poetry and photography published in a number of print and online journals, including VoiceCatcher, Calyx, and Palette. Jennifer has three grown children and husband and lives on a small farm in Vancouver. 

M. L. Lyons is a poet, writer, and arts advocate who was awarded a Klepser Fellowship in Creative Writing at the University of Washington. She co-edited “Raising Lilly Ledbetter: Women Poets Occupy the Workspace” with Carolyne Wright and Eugenia Toledo, and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart. Her book, “Songs from the Multiverse” has been published by Finishing Line Press. 

Ali Grimshaw contributes to the world as an educator, hope rebel, and poet. She is an Oregon gal passionate about facilitating shared writing experiences so that participants experience connection and the power of their voices. Ali has taught many children to read and many adults to dance. You can find her swing dancing and hiking forest paths. Ali is a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her poems have been published in several anthologies and journals, including MasticadoresUSA, Right Hand Pointing, and Visual Verse. You can find her writing circle offerings and poetry at flashlightbatteries.blog.