A Conversation with Bruce George & Poetry Discussion Panel

This show was created with the purpose of discussing Poetry. A panel of well known established Poets and Spoken Word artist will meet to have an educational, enlightening and constructive discussion on misconceptions and realities associated to what is Poetry and Spoken Word. This show will feature Bruce George for the first 30 mins and we then bring in the panel.



Confirmed Panelist:



JaySkills Snowden - *Co-Host* - Born and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. he has written poetry/prose & articles for over 34 years. His work has been published in major magazines, anthologies, and literary publications for over 25 years. Senior judge - "Def Poetry Jam" first season. Founder of the Brooklyn Moon Cafe's Slam team



*Brooklyn Moon Cafe Slam Team Winner - Apollo Theater.



*Brooklyn Moon Cafe's Slam Team Winner against the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe's Slam Team.



*Solo Slam Winner against the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe's Slam Team. NY



*Winner of New Yorks Hottest Poets Slam contest at the National Black Theater, Harlem NY

*Has never lost a slam contest


*Founder of "Angels with Broken Wings" and Producer of the Angels with Broken Wings Documentary regarding the Truth About The Prison Industrial Complex and The Criminal Justice System.




Bruce George *Initial 30 minutes* - Bruce is a visionary, executive producer, writer, poet and activist. His work has been published in major magazines, anthologies, and literary publications. Bruce is the Founder of the critically acclaimed award winning "Russell Simmons's Def Poetry Jam." As an activist Bruce has been and currently is associated with major grassroots organizations that fosters and uplifts people in struggle.


He's also the Founder/Managing Editor of "The Bandana Republic, an Anthology of Poetry & Prose by Gang Members & Their Affiliates."



Abiodun Oyewole - Founding member of the American music and spoken-word group "The Last Poets" (Original group consisted of David Nelson, Gylan Kain, and Abiodun Oyewole. Group was created on the anniversary of Malcolm X's birthday May 19, 1968 in Marcus Garvey Park.)


The group grew to consist of David Nelson, Gylan Kain, Abiodun Oyewole, Felipe Luciano, Umar Bin Hassan, Jalal Nurridin, and Suliamn El Hadi.


Abiodun Oyewole has had a number of projects not under the Last Poets name, such as the CD 25 Years. Oyewole, spent 15 years in the New York school system, also taught at Columbia University.

Louis Reyes Rivera
Poet/essayist Louis Reyes Rivera has been studying his craft since 1960 and teaching it since 1969. The recipient of over 20 awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award (1995), a Special Congressional Recognition Award (1988), and the CCNY 125th Anniversary Medal (1973), Rivera has assisted in the publication of well over 200 books, including John Oliver Killens' Great Black Russian (Wayne State U., 1989), Adal Maldonado's Portraits of the Puerto Rican Experience (IPRUS, 1984), and Bum Rush The Page: A Def Poetry Jam (Crown Publishers, 2001).



Considered by many as a necessary bridge between the African and Latino American communities, he is a professor of Pan-African, African-American, Caribbean and Puerto Rican literature and history whose essays and poems have appeared in numerous publications, including Areyto, Boletin, The City Sun, African Voices, and in five award-winning collections: In Defense of Mumia; ALOUD: Live from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Of Sons And Lovers, Bum Rush The Page, and his own Scattered Scripture.



Keith Roach - Poet, author, activist, Keith has produced a variety of reading series around New York City and is a former long time host of the Nuyorican Poet Cafe "Open Room" and SlamMaster of the Friday night slam and co-curator of the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Poetry & Spoken Word Festival. Currently he co-produces the internet broadcast, NoBoarders Poetry Radio , formerly known as Eadon's Place, and hosts "Conversations with Keith" which airs on NoBoarders Poetry Radio.



Tantra-Zawadi an award winning poet/artist/filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York, has performed to standingroom audiences at venues as far away as South Africa, London, Germany and Toronto.


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Join your host Tania-Maria Xavier and co-host JaySkills Snowden on July 1 at 6pm PST/8pm CST/9pm EST