Listen & Be Heard Network  

Our features for the first two rounds on the 19th are DDE, Don Hagelberg, Alicia Jones and Adam Gottshalk.

DDE is a 24 year old poet currently stationed in Germany who has been writing since the 9th grade. What started as a one month anniversary gift for a girlfriend has now been a great source of pride. Always writing about his personal experiences or feelings on issues, much of his poetry can be related to by many people from many backgrounds. Although only performing in coffee shops in the states, in Germany he has been a part of a small comedy/poetry group at the military posts in the area that he works at, as well as being invited to several slams in Germany. “Forward and up, the only two directions I know how to go”

Alicia Jones: I am currently 24 yrs. old. and I have two grown men ages of 4 and 5. I love them with all my heart everything I do is for them. Originally from Lubbock, Tx but I currently reside in California. . All my life I am a live walking, talking, big beautiful ebony individual and proud of it. Poetry is my passion, my enjoyment, a fantasy into another world. I have been writing since I was in the 7th grade. I get emotional, explicit (with still good taste), erotic, sad, joyful, etc. I believe in making people feel my words and see an image.

DON HAGELBERG participated in the 1960’s Civil Rights movement. While manager of San Francisco’s The Precarious Vision Coffee House, he co-wrote AN ARTISTS LIVING COOPERATIVE helping to promote Communes. Imprisoned in 1964-1965 for refusing induction, he never seemed to be able to complete any college course with satisfaction unless it was Creative Writing. He created and hosted LIVE POETS, a two-hour radio program broadcast on a Bay Area listener-supported radio station in the 1970s. A founding member of the BAY AREA POETS COALITION, he edited their first monthly publication, POEMPHLET, later re-named POETALK. In 2000 Don asked the BBC that they broadcast THE KALEVALAin English. They did: in installments. The broadcast pleased him because many international listeners heard the epic poem.

Adam Gottschalk lives in Portland Oregon, his favorite American city outside of New York, which is his hometown. He has been writing poetry and performing spoken word for more than 20 years. His poetry has appeared in several literary journals; he was a featured performer at the 1998 Seattle Poetry Festival and the 2001 St Petersburg Times Festival of Reading. Adam is also a brutal editor (for hire), a playwright, a graphic designer (of some 12 years), a trained singer, and is on his way to becoming a professional natural perfumer. Adam considers natural perfumery his final frontier as an artist. Adam is never ever satisfied (except with food).