Reimagine Virtual Candlelight Vigil with Jessica Hoppe and Jane Wong
Reimagine has been hosting candlelight vigils since March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to break down taboos and hold space for all that we've lost. This gathering features Jessica Hoppe and Jane Wong who will discuss their new memoirs exploring grief, addiction, the American Dream, and the immigrant experience. Our other featured guest is Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar, U.S. Army veteran, end-of-life doula educator, storyteller, and Reimagine community collaborator.
Jessica Hoppe is a Honduran Ecuadorian writer and creator of @NuevaYorka. She has been featured on ABC News, and Pa’lante! Max. Her work has appeared in Latino Book Review, the New York Times, Vogue, and elsewhere. Jessica is a board member of Time of Butterflies, a nonprofit supporting families through domestic abuse recovery, and is an organizer with the CentAm & Isthmian Writers group. She lives in New York City. First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream is her debut memoir.
First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream
Jane Wong is the author of the memoir Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City (Tin House, 2023). She also wrote two poetry collections: How to Not Be Afraid of Everything (Alice James, 2021) and Overpour (Action Books, 2016). A Kundiman fellow, she is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and fellowships and residencies from the U.S. Fulbright Program, Harvard's Woodberry Poetry Room, Artist Trust, Hedgebrook, UCross, Loghaven, and others. She grew up in a take-out restaurant on the Jersey Shore and is an Associate Professor at Western Washington University.
Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City
Photo: Gritchelle Fallesgon
Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar is the Founder and CEO of In Their Honor. As an Army Veteran, Spouse to a Combat Veteran, End-of-Life Doula Educator, and Storyteller, she has proudly devoted more than two decades to elevating the quality of life of military and Veteran communities. In founding In Their Honor, Qwynn embarked on a mission to collaborate with communities, states, academia, and organizations to ensure Veterans and their loved ones receive the support they deserve through the end of life. Qwynn extends her expertise and strategic direction to numerous military and Veteran community efforts focused on women Veterans, LGBTQIA+ Veterans, workforce development, suicide prevention, caregiving, aging/longevity, and end-of-life. Notably, she served as the Lead Advisor for PsychArmor’s groundbreaking “Caring for Veterans Through the End-of-Life Collection.” This 3-part collection, infused with profound wisdom and empathy, offers invaluable guidance and support for Compassionate Communities, Caregivers/Loved Ones, and Healthcare Providers. In 2024, she was appointed to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's End-of-Life Doula Council. Additionally, she is a founding member of the Compassionate Communities Think Tank (U.S.), advocating for social change related to community-based end-of-life support. Recognized as one of USA Today’s 2024 Women of the Year underscores her significant national contributions. Previously, the Georgia Department of Veterans Services awarded her the inaugural Woman Veteran of the Year (2022-2023). This dual recognition highlights her dedication, leadership, and commitment to making a difference in her community and the nation.
https://psycharmor.org/caring-for-veterans-through-end-of-life
About Reimagine
Reimagine is a nonprofit organization catalyzing a uniquely powerful community–people of different backgrounds, ages, races, and faiths (and no faith) coming together in the hopes of healing ourselves and the world. We specifically support each other in facing adversity, loss, and mortality and – at our own pace – actively channeling life's biggest challenges into meaningful action and growth.
