Past Conferences

The Power of Words conference was founded in 2003 at Goddard College and was, at first, a project of Goddard College. In 2008, the Transformative Language Arts Network took ownership of the conference and has since organized conferences in Vermont, Philadelphia, Missouri, Maine, Arizona and in 2021, online.

The purpose of the conference is to bring together people who resonate as transformative language artists -- writers, storytellers, performers, educators, healers, health professionals, community leaders, activists, change agents, clergy, and others drawn to the power of words to heal, transform and liberate. Peruse our past conference pages to see where the conference has traveled, and who has presented, and what we've learned along the way.

Keynote & Session Descriptions

The TLA Network exists to support and promote individuals and organizations that use the spoken, written, or sung word as a tool for personal and community transformation.

The Transformative Language Arts Network (TLAN) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our offerings, organization, and aspirations. Words have the power to question, subvert, and transform limiting cultural narratives as well as reinforce entrenched stories and stereotypes. The TLA Network wants to make clear that we celebrate and uplift conversations across identity and difference, whether rooted in race, religion, social class, ethnicity, disability, health, gender, sexual orientation, age, military service, and other identities. In the past we have responded to a lack of diversity by actively recruiting underrepresented groups to: present and keynote at the Power of Words conference; serve on the TLAN board; teach classes; and contribute to our publications. We will continue to look at ways to incorporate greater access and representation in all of our projects, not just through the power of words but through the specifics of our practices.

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The Transformative Language Arts Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

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