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AWARD-WINNING POET ACTIVIST. TEACHER. SPEAKER. AUTHOR OF the scorched earth From My Fear Is My Greatest Weakness
the scorched earth
TO SPEAK THE HARD STUFF TO SPEAK UP TO SPEAK OUT TO BREAK SILENCES, EVERYWHERE.
This is how I let myself live free. …With my voice upraised,
and my head upraised
and my spirit that rattles on about hope,
upraised.
From Glory, And Then Some
the scorched earth
Photo: Lani Cartwright
I raise my voice.
I raise my head. I survived. (Yes, you did, too.
I know).

And now, we thrive.


YOU ARE NOT ALONE IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. YOU WILL BE BELIEVED, AND SUPPORTED. YOU CAN HEAL AND RECLAIM YOUR LIFE. Dora E. McQuaid, on Victimization to Thriving DORA’S IMAGE REPLACES THAT OF JERRY SANDUSKY IN THE INSPIRATION MURAL — State College, PA, June 24, 2012 AT PENN STATE IN HONOR OF HER ACTIVISM FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN WE HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE. WE ARE

POET

Award-Winning Poet and Author of the scorched earth,
Dora’s ground-breaking Collection of Poems about her Journey from Victimization to Empowerment, among many other Publications.

ACTIVIST

Award-Winning Advocate
for 30 Years on behalf of Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Systemic Oppression. Activist for Social and Political Engagement and Change.

SPEAKER

Speaker and Performer
A 30-Year Career of Engaging Audiences to Educate, Express, Elevate and Inspire Systemic Social and Political Change and Individual Empowerment.

TEACHER

Educator and Expert
on Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Impact and Response. Authority on Healing and Empowerment, Activism and Engagement.

ARE YOU IN NEED OF HELP?

If you are in a crisis situation, or in need of immediate support or assistance
for experiences of either Domestic or Sexual Violence, please refer to my listing of
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS
and then reach out directly to the resource best suited to your immediate needs.

You are not alone. It is not your fault. You will be believed and supported.
And you can heal and reclaim your life with the support and assistance available
specifically designed to be present with you as you do.

All peace to each one of you.  Dora

ABOUT DORA E. MCQUAID

As a poet, activist, speaker and teacher for over 30 years, I remain dedicated to using my personal and professional experience, as well as my education and skills to assist people in exploring the truths of their own lives, in terms of both their histories and their dreams, the past that helps to shape us and the future that is always calling us forward to living into the lives that I believe want to live through us.

I believe that when we live from the core of these truths, our lives offer us unending guidance and hope in building our personal and collective experiences into ones of truth, empowerment, justice and possibility.

More About Dora E. McQuaid

the scorched earth

Expanded Second Edition
by Dora E. McQuaid

the scorched earth collection of poems
and the scorched earth: spoken audio companion

the scorched earth is Dora E. McQuaid’s collection of poems about her journey from victimization to survivorship, through healing from a history of both sexual and domestic violence into empowerment and international advocacy as an award-winning poet, activist, speaker and teacher.

The audio disc companion, the scorched earth: spoken is a studio recording of Dora performing all 35 poems included in the 2015 hard-cover Expanded, Second Edition of this ground-breaking collection.
View Complete Description >

the scorched earth spoken by Dora E. McQuaid, foreword by Eve Ensler
  • The Foreword by Eve Ensler, award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues
  • the scorched earth: spoken audio companion of Dora performing all 35 poems in the book,
  • Comprehensive 25-page Discussion/Study Guide
  • Extensive Listing of International Resources for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence

Order your signed copies today:




SERVICES

UPDATE ON DORA

Beautiful people, Dora was involved in a serious auto accident in early May 2021, which has required her to focus her energies on recovering from the injuries she sustained in it, causing her absence from her website over these past…

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Happy International Women’s Day! I spent my morning having the honor of visiting my high school and Betsy Hickman, who was my English teacher in both middle school and high schools. Betsy nominated me for the Lifetime Achievement Award in…

APRIL SUPPORTS SURVIVORS

Beautiful people, April is recognized as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it also contains National Crime Victim’s Rights Awareness Week. In honor of survivors of childhood sexual violence, my image in the above photo, where it replaced that…

PORTRAITS OF POETS

April is National Poetry Month! And in honor of the monthlong celebration, American photographer Jill Krementz has created this beautiful Photo Journal of the poets she has photographed across her career: Celebrating National Poetry Month. Jill’s career as a photographer…

CONTACT DORA E. MCQUAID

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