JONESTOWN SURVIVOR - Book 2 is in the Works! I am excited to say that I am resuming my work on my second book. I am setting the deadline for my first draft mid-June 2019. This book will have four parts: Updates on all things Peoples Temple/Jonestown that I have learned since I wrote my first book Jonestown Survivor: An Insider’s Look in 2009 and published it in 2010. Putting Peoples Temple and the rise of Jim Jones in Historical Perspective. Jonestown and Guyana - last March, seven of us returned to Guyana and Jonestown. My husband Ron, and son Raul, Jordan Vilchez (a fellow ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR Interview on All Out Attack Podcast with Harry Robinson I was interviewed for All Out Attack Podcast this last week. During the 40th Anniversary of Jonestown, many of us survivors expected the interest in/curiosity about Jonestown and Peoples Temple to slow down. Afterall, it had been 40 years. The opposite has been true. Since November 18, I have had many students, researchers, and historians reach out for interviews. This month, I have had people from around the world contact me for interviews - from Sweden, England, and other countries, and numerous students who were competing in the National History ...
» continue readingJonestown 40th Anniversary Plans Sunday, 11/18, Ceremony at 3 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland: First, is a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery (6450 Camden Street, Oakland, CA 94605). Monday, 11/19, Open House at California Historical Society from 10 a.m.-12 noon. This is a chance to see some of the books, projects and Ca Historical Society Archives - important especially if you are looking for photos of loved ones. For authors, you can show your writing and projects, but it is not a time to sell any products. Please contact Patricia Pforte by October 25, 2018 if you would like ...
» continue readingJonestown Survivor Activities from February to April, 2018 Saturday, 2/10 - Interview in the Epilogue of a cult discussion about Believers/Non-believers for a YouTube broadcast. Monday, 2/12 - University of Puget Sound in Tacoma Washington - Classes all day long, and then a Public/campus presentation: 5 pm McIntyre Hall 101. Wednesday, 2/14 and Monday, 2/19 7-8:30 p.m., Palomar College, Dr. Fredi Avalos’ Class on “Power, Discourse and Social Identity” March - a return trip to Guyana. Wednesdays, 3/14, 3/21, and 3/28 - CSU-San Bernadino in Palm Desert, Osher class. 1-4 Thursday, 3/29, San Diego State Osher Class, SDSU Love Library 1-2:50 Thursday, 4/5, Arkansas Technical University, Russelville, Arkansas, Classes during ...
» continue readingJonestown Survivor Visit to U of Puget Sound on Monday, February 12, 2018: 9:15 meet host, Dr. Jeff Matthews at U of Puget Sound 10:00 first-year seminar (students will have just finished Jonestown paper) 11:00 first-year seminar (same as above) 12-2pm lunch/break 2:00 pm senior research class (wide-ranging discussion including research and writing process) 3-5 pm break 5:00-6pm campus presentation 6:30 pm dinner
» continue reading[caption id="attachment_2073" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Evergreen Cemetery - Peoples Temple Panels[/caption]the jonestown report As a Jonestown Survivor, I am working on a very interesting project. The Jonestown Institute publishes (now on-line) a yearly "report" with writing from many sources about all things Peoples Temple. This year, I am editor of a "Guyanese Perspective" section. Over the past week, I have heard from about 150 Guyanese about their experiences with Peoples Temple in Guyana. It is fascinating! The articles will appear in the November issue of The Jonestown Report - take a look at last year's edition at: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=67218 the jonestown report, Volume 18, November ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR to Present in Zoar, Ohio at Communal Studies Association Conference Jonestown Survivor will participate in the Communal Studies Association Annual Conference in Zoar, Ohio. I am a Board Member of the CSA and have gained insight into my own experiences living in the communities of Peoples Temple and Synanon. I reflect and present about my evolution of understanding in these settings. THE THEME: To succeed, grow and survive, all successful communal groups have had to adapt to changing situations, be they internal or external: internal changes in their leadership, in their environment, and in their membership, as well as those ...
» continue readingJonestown Survivor - Current Schedule Currently, I am writing my 2nd book. Additionally, I have these scheduled presentations: July 29, 2017 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm - I am attending: San Francisco’s Museum of African Diaspora White Nights, Black Paradise | A Screening and Discussion on Black Women, Peoples Temple and Jonestown August 8 - Panelist 10:30-12 (as a Quaker) 2017 Poway Interfaith Team putting on a 2017 NAIN “CONNECT” Conference, San Diego October 5-7 Presenter of two Scholarly Papers on Peoples Temple at Communal Studies Association Conference in Zoar Community, in Ohio 2017 Conference Theme: “To succeed, grow and survive, all successful communal groups have had ...
» continue readingJonestown Survivor News - I have been asked to teach a 5-week OSHER Class here in San Diego. Here is the Course Outline: Selected History of the 1960s and 1970s Laura Johnston Kohl, Jonestown Survivor and Author, will present a 5-week study of selected United States History from the 1960s and 1970s. Each class will focus on a different aspect of those two decades. -1st class will review US History, beginning with the 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks, including the assassinations of five inspiring leaders in the 1960s, and ending in 1970. -2nd class will review the struggles for different national communities to gain ...
» continue readingI am excited, and determined, this week to finish up two articles for THE JONESTOWN REPORT (November 2016 on-line edition). One article will be a review of Eusi Kwayana's A NEW LOOK AT JONESTOWN, from the Guyanese perspective. I love Eusi and his wife Tchaiko, who have been mentors (to me and to my son Raul) over the years as I tried to be a teacher who opened my students' eyes to the "REAL" history taking place all around us. I get to re-visit his book and all the reasons I felt enriched after reading it, as it evolved before being ...
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