‘I realized I'm not alone' – 13th annual Women of Word performance provides catharsis for trauma victims
Words can be powerful, and Monday night some local poets tested just how powerful their words could be.
Dozens of community members gathered at Basement Transmissions on West 11th Street for the 13th annual Women of Word performance — An event that seeks to explore mental health and trauma through art.
'Mine started after I escaped. After I was out of my domestic violence situation, I started writing, and I was shoving them under a bed in a box, and my 17-year-old son at the time pulled them out and said, 'Mom, you could be helping people with these,'' said Thasia Anne Lunger, director, producer and performer.
Soon after, Lunger got a job telling her story through poetry at SafeNet Erie for eight years.
Benedictine Sisters of Erie hold Take Back the Site vigil for victim of attempted robbery
Eventually, Women of Word was born — A performance where local poets can tell their own stories of issues from drug abuse to mental illness.
'Someone out there is going through it and thinking they're alone, and that's where I was. I thought, 'I'm the only one stupid enough to be in this situation and not get out of it,' but after I got out and after I started living the world and seeing what happens at SafeNet, I realized I'm not alone,' said Lunger.
The stage at Basement Transmissions is usually a place for artists and bands and acting, but Monday night people came to tell their stories and convey important messages.
'I owe it to my larger community, now that I'm safe, to talk about what I went through so that people who are still living in that can maybe latch on to some bit of hope, to help get through their own experience,' said Elyse Palmer, a poet.
McDowell students save lives by participating in CBB blood drive
Palmer and seven other poets voiced their poetry on the stage, with many delivering their own stories that they wrote themselves.
Whether you're dealing with grief, mental illness, addiction or abuse, the cast members said you are not alone.
And if you or anyone you know is dealing with something right now, contact one of the many organizations who are willing to help:
Veteran's Medical Center: Physical and Mental Health – 814-868-8661
SafeNet Women's Shelter Information: 814-455-1774
Safe Journey Women's Shelter: 814-438-2675
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Safe Harbor Wellness Center: Mental Health: 814-838-3401
Crisis Intervention: 814-456-2014
Women's Care Center: 814-868-4050
Saint Patrick's Haven Men's Shelter: 814-454-7219
City Mission Grace House: Women's Shelter: 814-452-4421 x402
City Mission Samaritan Care: Men's Shelter: 814-452-4421 x239
Crime Victim Center of Erie: 814-455-9515
Esper Treatment Center: 814-459-0817
Erie Outpatient Treatment Center: 814-456-2203
Drug Rehab Erie PA: 814-201-7588
Drug Rehab Centers Erie PA: 814-651-9437
White Pine Center for Healing: 814-461-5617
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Three cricket clubs suspended after person ‘hit by ball in car park'
'I got a call about two weeks ago to say that the top field is going to be closed because of an incident which is right next to the cricket pitch,' Ayris said. 'We got a call out of the blue to say cricket's been suspended until a meeting at the end of June because it's too dangerous. 'We believe this sets an incredibly worrying precedent for any team that play their matches in a public space. Cricket was suspended without any consultation with the three teams who play there and without any effort to investigate the allegation.' Oaklands Cricket Club have made a formal complaint to Danbury Parish Council. Rory Carlton, the honorary secretary of Danbury Cricket Club, said that none of those playing for or against Danbury during the game when the alleged incident occurred had any recollection of a member of the public being hit. According to the accident log, the incident occurred at 1pm, 10 minutes before Danbury's match began that day. 'Neither Danbury CC or their opposition – Burnham and South Woodham CC – witnessed any member of the public being struck by a ball during or before the match,' Carlton said. 'Following the alleged incident I was informed by Danbury Parish Council that they 'didn't realise somebody could be struck by a cricket ball and thus the risk profile had changed', which I and any reasonable person would surely find incredulous.' Ayris also said that Oaklands Cricket Club had posted a link to their petition on the Danbury Village community page on Facebook, which was deleted within hours. 'We haven't cancelled cricket' Michelle Harper, parish clerk at Danbury Parish Council, told Telegraph Sport that the suspension of cricket was only temporary. 'At the moment, the council has suspended cricket while it carries out a further health and safety review,' Parish said. 'We decided to close the top car park where the cricket is played – hopefully as a short-term measure. 'It's suspended until June 23, when the council will have a formal council meeting to decide on the mitigation that it needs to put in place so that cricket can continue. 'It's really important that people understand that we haven't cancelled cricket. All we've done is suspend cricket while we are carrying out both investigations and looking at mitigation for the health and safety of everybody who uses the field. We haven't cancelled cricket, which I think is a lot of people's fear.' Ayris told Telegraph Sport that Danbury Parish Council has persistently complained about the cost of cricket. 'Every time we have a meeting before the season and post-season, they say that cricket is a financial burden on the parish council and that we have to give them reasons to carry on,' he said. Harper added: 'The council has always supported cricket in the time I've been here.'
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top Analyst Cuts Tesla to 'Hold' as Robotaxi Optimism Faces Scrutiny
June 10- Robert W. Baird analyst Ben Kallo downgraded Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to a "Hold" rating from "Buy". Kallo maintained his price target of $320 per share. This marks the analyst's first downgrade for the electric vehicle maker in three years. Kallo cited concerns over "heightened expectations" surrounding Tesla's upcoming robotaxi launch event. He also highlighted potential "key-man risk" related to CEO Elon Musk's activities and associations. The analyst noted TSLA stock has surged over 20% since first-quarter results, likely reflecting existing optimism about the robotaxi and a more affordable vehicle. The analyst expressed skepticism about the projected speed of the robotaxi service rollout, describing it as potentially "a bit too optimistic." Tesla was recently listed by Austin, Texas, authorities as being in the "testing" phase for autonomous vehicles. Competitor Waymo is listed in the "deployment" phase in the same city. Kallo's decision also factored in increased competition, potential changes to vehicle delivery timelines, and the gradual reduction of electric vehicle tax credits. Despite the downgrade, Tesla shares rose about 3% in pre-market trading on Tuesday. This movement coincided with the apparent easing of tensions between Musk and former President Donald Trump, who recently confirmed continued use of Tesla products. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral candidates face off in forum held by PIX11 News
NEW YORK (PIX11) – The top six Democratic candidates for New York City mayor are facing off against one another during a forum airing exclusively on PIX11 News. Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie are all vying for the Democratic nomination for November's general election. More Local News Polling from Emerson College/PIX11 News/The Hill showed Cuomo maintaining a lead, followed by Mamdani – who's made the biggest dent in Cuomo's popularity. Lander rounded out the top three candidates, according to the poll. It's the second mayoral primary to use ranked-choice voting. Early voting starts in New York City on June 14. 'Seeking City Hall: The 2025 New York City Democratic Mayoral Forum' is airing on PIX11 News, and PIX11+ smartTV app at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. To learn how to submit your questions to the forum, click here. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
