Keynote Poet: Laura Hope-Gill
On Saturday Morning, hear Laura Hope-Gill, admired and esteemed Essayist, Poet, Teacher, Narrator, Storyteller, Director of the Writing Program at Lenoir-Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies in Asheville, NC

On Saturday afternoon, Laura will offer a one hour interactive workshop after lunch.

Thursday night Welcoming Event:
“Poetry Alive” – an energetic and inspirational opening event using high-energy and interactive Performance Poetry

Saturday afternoon:
Celebratory Event with innovative Christey Carwile, Ph.D, professor of anthropology at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, who will facilitate a meaningful movement circle as the closing for our group using creative dance, spontaneous poetry, and community building movement exercises.

***PRIOR to the annual National Association for Poetry Therapy Conference on APRIL 20-22, 2015, Peggy Osna Heller, PhD, LCSW, PTR and the Wordsworth Center will present “We Are Pilgrims”a professional training seminar for all practitioners of healing through the written word to be held at Blue Ridge Assembly Black Mountain, NC. This intensive is approved for peer credit training hours by the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy. For more information about discounts and to register separately for this event go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-are-pilgrims-professional-training-in-bibliopoetry-therapy-tickets-14077051841

Join our Silent Auction
On the Saturday of our conference, NAPT will be hosting it’s first Silent Auction! A wide array of items will be on display and by bidding on them, you will be showing your support of NAPT. If you are interested in donating books, instructional or documentary CDs or DVDs, original artwork, handmade crafts, or other items related to poetry, writing or other creative or therapeutic practices, please contact Karen vanMeenen at naptpublications@yahoo.com by April 1st. Note: donated items will need to be brought or shipped to the conference site and are tax deductible. We welcome your valuable contributions to this event!

NAPT Scholarships for Conference Registration
To encourage newcomers to our conference, we are offering up to four scholarships of $250 each to first time conference attendees. If you wish to apply, submit your name, e-mail, regular mailing address and major field of endeavor, along with a brief essay of no more than 500 words indicating your professional/educational links to poetry therapy and reasons for wishing to attend the NAPT conference. The deadline for applications is February 7th, 2015. If you have already registered you may still apply and if you are awarded the scholarship you will be reimbursed that amount. Applicants will be notified before March 1st of their acceptance. Please send all application letters to Barbara Kreisberg, Conference Chair at bkexpres@aol.com .