Speaking Poetry to Power

Kelisha Daley, Martin Gomes, Khiem Hoang, Shahaddah Jack, Zara Rahman and Desiree Mckenzie  

Speaking Poetry to Power

Kelisha Daley, Martin Gomes, Khiem Hoang, Shahaddah Jack, Zara Rahman and Desiree Mckenzie  

3:00pm

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Join the Toronto International Festival of Authors and Canadian award-winning poets and activists Kelisha Daley, Martin Gomes, Khiem Hoang, Shahaddah Jack and Zara Rahman for an empowering archived presentation of the power of performance (originally aired on October 27, 2021). In conversation with Desiree Mckenzie, the poets share the tools that youths need to create their own poetry and writing, and the necessary techniques to reflect the challenges and change they’d like to inspire in the world around them.

All presenters are mentees of the iAM Programme: a youth-led arts and social justice mentorship for equity-seeking youth in Canada aged 12–26. Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning performer and arts educator, who in 2019, earned the title of Canadian Festival of Spoken Word National Champion.

Recommended for ages 11 and up.

English captioning is available for this video. Please click the ‘CC’ button in the video toolbar to turn it on.

This event is currently re-released as part of Harbourfront Centre’s 2023 KUUMBA Presented by TD Bank Group, Toronto’s largest Black Futures Month celebration. The video is available to watch for free throughout the month of February. Learn more here.

This event is presented in partnership with the Reading is Magic Festival.

Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) logo         Reading is Magic Festival Logo - "Reading is Magic Festival, 27th September - 3rd October, 2021

Performance

Join the Toronto International Festival of Authors and Canadian award-winning poets and activists Kelisha Daley, Martin Gomes, Khiem Hoang, Shahaddah Jack and Zara Rahman for an empowering archived presentation of the power of performance (originally aired on October 27, 2021). In conversation with Desiree Mckenzie, the poets share the tools that youths need to create their own poetry and writing, and the necessary techniques to reflect the challenges and change they’d like to inspire in the world around them.

All presenters are mentees of the iAM Programme: a youth-led arts and social justice mentorship for equity-seeking youth in Canada aged 12–26. Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning performer and arts educator, who in 2019, earned the title of Canadian Festival of Spoken Word National Champion.

Recommended for ages 11 and up.

English captioning is available for this video. Please click the ‘CC’ button in the video toolbar to turn it on.

This event is currently re-released as part of Harbourfront Centre’s 2023 KUUMBA Presented by TD Bank Group, Toronto’s largest Black Futures Month celebration. The video is available to watch for free throughout the month of February. Learn more here.

This event is presented in partnership with the Reading is Magic Festival.

Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) logo         Reading is Magic Festival Logo - "Reading is Magic Festival, 27th September - 3rd October, 2021

Performance

Featured Authors

Kelisha Daley
A poet by any other name should be called Kelisha Daley, who is adamant that life is romantic, even in its mundane-ness. At the age of 26, Kelisha is an emerging multidisciplinary artist: actor, writer, designer and poet. Kelisha graduated Humber College in 2020 where she received three years of theatrical training in performative arts. Her film projects include The Bliss of Falling, produced with The And, Stages Company in 2020; self-produced film Where There Is Room to Bloom; The Promotion (directed by Mike Regis) and Mismatch (directed by Tasha Gray) as an actor; and her upcoming self-produced project, to mad women everywhere, as part of FILM POV’s 2021 en/Vision Lab.

Read more about Kelisha Daley

Martin Gomes
Martin Gomes recently obtained a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts at York University where he studied music. Ringleader of his Band “JuiceBox” with whom he won the TIFF: Battle of the Scores competition in 2020. Beatboxer, musician, chorister, model, writer and poet, he got hella characteristics to choose from. His goal is to develop a space where him and his homies can survive, thrive and live their lives at their pace.

Read more about Martin Gomes

Khiem Hoang
Khiem Hoang (he/they) is a writer, community facilitator, researcher in training and wannabe musician with an obsession for shawarma and counterculture. His work seeks to question our realities and ponder radical possibilities. He cares deeply about celebrating a multiplicity of perspectives, improving our conditions and being “heavy metal” (whatever that means). You can find him trawling thrift stores and shilling obscure artists.

Read more about Khiem Hoang

Shahaddah Jack
Born and raised in Tkaronto with a diverse cultural background that grounds her in her poetry and life is Shahaddah Jack. The 17-year-old bilingual spoken word poet, performer, emcee, human rights activist, arts facilitator and student of life takes a poetic stance on human rights and social justice in her work. Her poetry speaks to the lived black experience, the intersectionality of womanhood and the adversity of adolescence. Shahaddah has performed on many stages including TIFF Bell Lightbox, Meridian Hall and Toronto Centre for the Arts. As a mentor, she has facilitated poetry, human rights and artist mentoring workshops with organizations like BGC, Guelph University and JAYU. You can follow her on Instagram @shahaddahjack or her website shahaddahjack.com

Read more about Shahaddah Jack

Zara Rahman
Zara Rahman (she/her) is a spoken word artist, nonprofit founder and community leader. Through written and spoken word poetry, Zara has shared stories with audiences up to 2000 and in more intimate settings. She has been featured on CBC News and the Toronto Star for her community involvement. Zara, founder of the international nonprofit organization, Youth Professionals (@youthprofessionals), created a platform to support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth all over the world through virtual opportunities. Recently, she was named the 2021 CBC News Community Champion award winner. In the future, Zara plans to pursue a career as a human rights attorney and continue writing poems whenever possible.

Read more about Zara Rahman

Desiree Mckenzie  
Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning poet, arts educator, national poetry slam champion and voice actor from Toronto. Her poetry and voice have been featured in works for CBC’s Poetic License series, When Sisters Speak, Clearco Financial, Button Poetry, 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. Her debut spoken word EP, Wet Hair, is now available on streaming platforms. In December 2022, she opened for Rupi Kaur on her world tour stop at Massey Hall.

Read more about Desiree Mckenzie  

3:00pm

Wednesday, October 27

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