The Tom Sanders Memorial Reading is an annual presentation in the Poetry Center's Reading and Lecture series. Established by the generosity of Tom's friends in 2017, this event features writers who were former students at the University of Arizona, writers who were formerly or currently members of the University of Arizona faculty, writers with strong ties to Southern Arizona, or University of Arizona Press authors. This year we are proud to present Kimberly Blaeser. 

Kimberly Blaeser, poet, photographer, and scholar, is past Wisconsin Poet Laureate and founding director of Indigenous Nations Poets. She is the author of six poetry collections including Ancient Light, Copper Yearning, and Résister en dansant/Ikwe-niimi: Dancing Resistance. Her photographs and picto-poems have appeared in exhibits such as “Visualizing Sovereignty,” and “No More Stolen Sisters.” An enrolled member of White Earth Nation, Blaeser is an Anishinaabe activist and environmentalist whose accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from Native Writers’ Circle of the Americas. Blaeser is an MFA faculty member at Institute of American Indian Arts and Professor Emerita at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

In addition to the in-person reading, most Reading & Lecture Series events are streamed live on our website.

This reading is presented in partnership with Amerind Museum, an academic research center, museum, art gallery, historic property, scenic destination, and community gathering place in Dragoon Arizona, dedicated to work that explores both Native American history and contemporary life. Learn more at Amerind.org.