Poet
Performances/Publications
Featured Readings
Writer’s Week Niles North High School • 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, Skokie, IL
Logan Center for the Arts, Sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, Chicago, IL
Not Your Grandma’s Poetry Show • 2017
Sulzer Regional Library, Poetry Fest Chicago, IL
Pop-Up Poet at the Art Institute of Chicago • 2017 Sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, Chicago, IL
Not Your Grandma’s Poetry Show • 2016
Harold Washington Library, Poetry Fest, Chicago, IL
Poetry with Vision • 2016
Loyola University, Gender Studies Program Chicago, IL
Poetry with Vision • 2015
Women & Children First Bookstore, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth’s Crazy Little Thing • 2015
Phyllis’ Musical Inn, Chicago, IL
“Poet at the End of the World” • 2015
Podcast Series
Caffeinated Confessions, • 2015
Everybody’s Coffee, Chicago, IL
Uptown Poetry Slam • 2015, 2017, 2018
Green Mill Jazz Lounge, Chicago, IL
Featured Artist/Poet Applied Words • 2011
Guild Complex/Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Body Politic of Pierre Marie Brisson • 2011
Th!nkArt Gallery, Chicago, IL,
Atropolis, A Celebration of Art, Antiques & Culture • 2011, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
War & Peace, Th!nkArt Gallery, Chicago, IL • 2009 Sister Cities International Paris Committee fundraiser
Art gallery opening for Encyclopedia Show • 2009
Chopin Theater, Chicago, IL
WBEZ Webcast for Poetry Month Celebration • 2009
Harold Washington Library, Chicago, IL
Universe of Poetry • 2008, 2009
Flatfile Gallery, Chicago, IL
Chicago Poetry Festival • 2005, Chicago, IL
Chicago Poetry Explosion • 2005
Two-day festival at Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL ,
Ben Around Town • 2003, WYCC-TV, Chicago, IL
Uncommon Ground • 2003, 2004, 2009, Chicago, IL
WHPK Radio, University of Chicago • 2003, Chicago, IL
Flyover Zone • 2003, WQNA, Springfield, IL
Morning Talk Radio • 2002, WBEZ Chicago, IL
Around The Coyote Fall Arts Festival • 2002
Chicago, IL
Civic Center Arts Fest • 2001, 2002
Fontenay Le Comte, France
WZRD Radio • 1998, 2002
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL,
Cook County Fair, Chicago, IL • 2002
Multicultural arts festival
Mental Graffiti • 2001, Chicago, IL
Poetry Month • 2000
Lincoln Library, Springfield, IL
Literary Leadership
One Poetic Voice • 2014 to Present Co-founder, organizer of international exchanges, Chicago, IL
Chicago Slam Works, • 2009 to 2017 Co-founder,
board member and “Slambassador," Chicago, IL
“How to Promote Your Poetry” Panel • 2011, 2017
Harold Washington Library, Poetry Month Fest,
Chicago, IL
“Integrating Poetry into Other Subjects” • 2005
Chicago Public Schools Magnet Cluster Institute Speaker for 100+ CPS elementary school principals and lead teachers, Chicago IL
Teaching Artists Collective • 2005 Sulzer Regional Library, Panelist on teaching poetry for arts instructors, Chicago, IL
Publication Highlights
American Gun: A Poem by 100 Chicago Poets • 2019
Big Shoulders Books, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Nourish • 2018
Online literary journal
Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume Two • 2016
Co-authored, with Marc Kelly Smith, entry on Poetry Slam, University of Kentucky
Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd • 2014
First collection of Original poems and art, Self-published with a grant from the Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Helium180, A Journal of Contemporary Writing • 2014
Journal of Psychological Poetry • 2010
After Hours • 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009
Chicago, IL
Coleré, Coe College • 2002, IA
Oyez Review, Roosevelt University Press • 1998
Poetry Instructor
South Middle School • 2005, 2008, Mount Prospect, IL
Joseph Sears Elementary School, Kenilworth, IL
Performance & Workshops • 2007
Two-days for middle school students
Young Women’s Leadership Charter School • 2001 - 2005, Poet-in-Residence for 7th, 8th and 12th graders through The Poetry Center of Chicago’s Hands on Stanza program (20-week residency per semester), Chicago, IL
Unity Junior High School, Cicero, IL • 2004, 2005
One-day workshops for three classes of eighth graders
Victor Herbert Elementary School • 2005
Chicago, IL, One-day workshops
Roosevelt Elementary School • 2003, 2004, One-day workshops for middle school students
Cicero, IL
Awards/Recognition
One of "30 Writers to Watch" • 2019
Guild Literary Complex, Chicago, IL
Individual Artist Grant, 2014
City of Chicago Department of Culture and Special Events, Chicago, IL
Semi-finalist in the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award • 2007
Guild Literary Complex, Chicago, IL
Memberships/Affiliations
American Writers Museum • 2017 Chicago
Writers Association Member • 2011 - Present
The Poetry Center of Chicago • 2005 - 2008
Board member
Society of Midland Authors • 2002 to Present