Soapstone's Bread and Roses Award

Eleanor Berry will be given the Soapstone Bread and Roses Award on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2023.

The Soapstone Bread and Roses Award honors a woman whose work has sustained the writing community. Eleanor Berry is being recognized for her work making poetry visible and accessible—some have said “really alive”—in the Central Willamette Valley with Salem as its center. She is a selfdescribed “poet activist.” Her mission has been to “make poetry a part of the community.” Almost all of her work has been as a volunteer. As poet Lois Rosen said, “When she sees an opportunity for something to happen, she simply goes ahead and organizes it, regardless of whether or not she will get paid. Anything poetry-related in the mid-Willamette Valley area of Oregon will bear Eleanor’s fingerprint if you look for it.”

The award includes $1500, a bouquet of roses, and a luncheon with the Soapstone Board.

You can download a PDF with full information about Eleanor Berry.

Interview with Eleanor Berry by Amy Leona Havin, ArtsWatch, March 22, 2023

Previous recipients

2022: Carla Perry
PDF with full information about the 2022 awardee.
Interview with Carla Perry by Amy Leona Havin, Artswatch, March 9, 2022:

One Woman, One Vote and Maureen Michelson
PDF with full information about the 2021 awardee.
Interview with Maureen Michelson by Amy Leona Havin, Artswatch, March 4, 2021

2020: Leanne Grabel
PDF with full information about the 2020 awardee.
Interview with Leanne Grabel with Bob Hicks, Artswatch, February 20, 2020

2019: Barbara LaMorticella
PDF with full information about the 2019 awardee.
Interview with Barbara LaMorticella by Bob Hicks, Artswatch, March 2, 2019