Odyssey in Progress

"Odyssey in Progress" presents the life experiences of Sandra D. Brown through various styles of poetry. "Haiku #1" and "My Odyssey" serve as the starting points of Brown's poetic memoir. She becomes incarcerated for defending her life, but pieces such as "Truth or Dare," reveal that prison is but one of many misfortunes imprisoning her long before she was locked up. The writer eloquently speaks her pain, passion, power, and purpose in "A Prisoner's Medley," "Redeliberations," and "Final Thoughts." On a collective level, Odyssey in Progress raises awareness about the need to address and heal social issues that impact women and other marginalized groups in their quest for wholeness, freedom, and self-actualization. Such pieces include "'Fro Po,'" "Conversation with Rosa Parks," and "From the Mouth of an Unnecessary Target." In between socio-individual spectrums, "Haiku 6," "Vitalessence," and "Curiononsense," serve as reminders to just breathe and enjoy life on life's terms, as the ability to do so is required to empower ourselves and others. Lastly, Brown's passion for poetry inspired her to create pieces that celebrate the art itself. "Ode to Poetry" and "Gregory's Gift" celebrate the power of the pen for Brown, poets, and readers of poetry everywhere.

Sandra Brown holds an MA in Humanities from California State University-Dominguez Hills and is a doctoral student enrolled in California Coast University's EdD in Organizational Leadership program. She also served 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections as an incarcerated survivor. Despite challenges to accessing higher education in prison, Brown became the first incarcerated woman in Illinois history to pledge and gain acceptance into the Gamma Pi Delta Honor Society, the first incarcerated woman in Illinois history to earn an academic masters degree, and the first incarcerated woman in Illinois history accepted into an academic doctoral program. Challenges to accessing higher education spearheaded Brown's work as a student, educator, researcher, activist, and creative writer. Brown is a two-time recipient of the Davis-Putter Scholarship and the Marilyn Buck Award. Past publications include a collection of works in Critical Storytelling from Behind Invisible Bars: Undergraduates and Inmates Write Their Way Out. More of her work is due to be released in February 2022 through TUPIT Magazine and later this year through Sense/Brill Publishers. Currently, Brown resides in Los Angeles and works as a Senior Advisor/Writer in Residence for the Women's Justice Institute in Chicago.