EDUTAINMENT SUMMIT: BUSINESS OF POETRY PANEL

Far too often, poets are told there is no career path for them beyond the stage. This is the furthest thing from the truth. In fact many have found ways to infuse poetry into other industries. Beyond the stage there is a world of opportunities for poets to thrive and build a purposeful career path. This panel will feature poets of multiple generations in different stages of their careers to help you create a path of success for generations to come.

MEET OUR POET PANELISTS:

Ian Keteku is a writer, performer and multimedia artist. He has written and directed projects for the National Film Board of Canada, CBC, PBS and Sesame Street. An award-winning poet, Keteku is the 2010 World Poetry Slam Champion. His work has been translated into French, Slovak, Russian, Danish, Arabic, ASL and others.

Ian Keteku uses his voice to inspire messages of peace, action, and critical thought. With a heritage in Ghana, Ian’s work is strongly influenced by his upbringing and journeys throughout Africa. His work follows in the lineage of ancient African storytellers by paying homage to the past and revisiting themes and lessons from previous generations.

IG: @ianketeku

Faduma Mohamed is a spoken word poet, playwright, arts educator, autism advocate and emerging actor. In 2016, she produced her one-woman-play OUGHTISM in d'bi young's Watah Theatre. The play journeys through the life of Tariq, a Black nonverbal autistic savant, navigating through love and life. In 2019, she wrote the sequel Golden Mind which won University of Toronto Mississauga's Historical Studies: Creativity Award. In 2015, she carried a box from her play, every single day, everywhere she went, to challenge the stigma around autism. The autism awareness and fundraising initiative called “#OughtTheBox” has raised $12,000 and benefited autistic people in Toronto, Edmonton and London, England. In 2020, she was awarded the JAYU Arts for Human Rights Award (Emerging Artist) category. Most recently, she graduated from York University’s teacher education program. Above all, she believes in the power of dreams.

IG: @fadumamohameds

Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning poet, arts educator, national poetry slam champion, voice actor, and photographer from Toronto. Her poetry and voice have been featured in works for CBC’s Poetic License series, When Sisters Speak, Clearco Financial’s International Women’s Day Campaign, Kids Help Phone, and Home Depot. She facilitates a range of community poetry programming for organizations like JAYU, VIBE Arts, Unity Charity, Poetry in Voice, and Shakespeare in Action. In March 2021, she released her debut spoken word EP, Wet Hair, now available on streaming platforms. In December 2022, opened for Rupi Kaur on her world tour stop at Massey Hall.

IG: @desireemckenzie

Dwayne Morgan is a two-time Canadian National Poetry Slam Champion. He began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. In 1994, he founded Up From The Roots entertainment, to promote the positive artistic contributions of African Canadian and urban influenced artists.

IG: @dwayne_morgan

This Panel will be moderated by RISE founder, executive director & Ontario's Poet Laureate @randelladjei

Host or Publisher R.I.S.E Movement