FRIDAY NIGHT OPENING PROGRAM

​REARDON THEATRE

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7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
The Raft: Navigating Through the Ups & Downs of a Writing Life

Jessie Cole, Maggie MacKellar, Meg Bignell, Bronwyn Birdsall and Carolyn Fraser.

 

Hear from an established writing group that spans three states and has published five books between them in the last two years. They work across genres and their books have been listed for several major awards. How do they support each other? What impact does the group have on their writing and in navigating the publication process? Learn all the secrets behind the success of their dynamic writing group.

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8.45 pm - 9.30 pm
Serving Change : Hana Assafiri & Hilary Harper

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Join Hilary Harper in an engaging conversation with Hana Assafiri, the woman behind the Moroccan Soup Bar and lately her book, Hana: The Audacity to Be Free. Hana Assafiri will discuss her journey from running a beloved restaurant to becoming a key figure in social advocacy and cultural dialogue. Harper and Assafiri will explore how the Moroccan Soup Bar has become a hub for community engagement and social impact, revealing the ways in which food and hospitality can drive meaningful change. Assafiri’s inspiring journey, her work and the broader lessons on compassion and community that extend beyond the dining table, are instructions for living.  

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