Soapstone's Bread and Roses Award

THALIA ZEPATOS  will be given the Soapstone Bread and Roses Award on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025.

The Soapstone Bread and Roses Award honors a woman whose work has helped to sustain the Oregon writing community. Previously this award has gone to a woman whose work was specifically within and for our literary community—both writers and readers. This year we have broadened its scope to honor a member of Oregon’s literary community whose work has impacted millions of lives around the world in profound ways, as well as the lives of writers and readers in Oregon. We celebrate writer and activist Thalia Zepatos for her decades of work on reproductive freedom and LGBT equality—crucial work that has enabled our literary community to thrive. 

Thalia will receive a bouquet of roses and a check for $2000 at a private gathering with current and former board members on March 8.

You can download a PDF with full information about Thalia Zepatos

Interview with Thalia Zepatos, Artswatch, March 6, 2025 

Previous recipients

2024: Ellen Waterston
PDF with full information about the 2024 awardee.
Interview with Ellen Waterston, Artswatch, March 22, 2024

2023: Eleanor Berry
PDF with full information about the 2023 awardee.
Interview with Eleanor Berry by Amy Leona Havin, Artswatch, March 22, 2023

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