Tag: Semaj Brown
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Profile: “What if he had opened his eyes?” Kelsey Ronan on grief, healing, breaking a curse in “Chevy in the Hole”
By Jan Worth-Nelson Twelve years ago, Kelsey Ronan found her longtime partner Bryan dead of a heroin overdose in their Flint apartment. Out of what she describes as an onslaught of grief, anger, loss, and finally, a hard-won, unsentimental hope, the novel Chevy in the Hole was born. For Ronan, the book emerged from one…
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Flint’s Poet Laureate, Semaj Brown, receives $50,000 award from the American Academy of Poets for civic project
By Tom Travis The American Academy of Poets has chosen Flint’s Poet Laureate, Semaj Brown, as one of 2021 Poet Laureate Fellows. Brown was chosen along with 22 other Poets Laureate from across the country. Each of the winners will receive $50,000 for their literary work as well as a project of their choosing with…
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Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown bringing “Word Power” online Aug. 13
How do words define and confine our reality? Flint’s first poet laureate, Semaj Brown, will explore that question in “Word Power: How words define and confine our reality” in a virtual performance and interactive discussion at 7 pm. Thursday, Aug. 13. The event, sponsored by UM – Flint’s College of Arts and Sciences, will be…
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“FACES of Flint” GOTV videos going public
It’s happening! The premiere, LIVE ON ZOOM, of “FACES of Flint: a message from the anvil of American democracy” Two “Get out the vote” videos produced by East Village Magazine feature 130 Flint residents offering a heart-touching Get Out the Vote message. Featuring narration by Flint poet laureate Semaj Brown and East Village Magazine Editor at Large…
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Children’s Poetry Show goes ZOOM to feature Poet Laureate Semaj Brown June 29
By Jan Worth-Nelson “Dreaming, Imagining Good Happenings” is the theme of a children’s poetry show featuring Flint’s poet laureate Semaj Brown via Zoom/Facebook Live at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 29. “All children everywhere, inside and outside of Flint,” are invited to join in, Brown said. The event also is a celebration of a donation of…
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Review: Semaj Brown at the FIA a poet, a priestess, a force of nature borne of anger and love
By Jan Worth-Nelson In the opening of Semaj Brown’s Jan. 26 performance at the Flint Institute of Arts, FIA director John Henry described Brown, Flint’s first poet laureate, as a “science-driven author, dramatist, playwright, and educator who builds inter-disciplinary curriculum.” And since Brown’s appointment as poet laureate by former Mayor Karen Weaver last year, she…
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Poet Laureate Semaj Brown launches literacy project in compelling UM – Flint performance
By Patsy Isenberg “Say Her Name.” Semaj Brown. Flint’s first-ever poet laureate, made that powerful line one of her central refrains at a performance, discussion and launch of a literacy initiative at the University of Michigan – Flint’s Kiva Auditorium Nov. 13. Brown had received a proclamation from then-Mayor Karen Weaver announcing her as Flint’s…
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Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown to perform at UM-Flint Nov. 13
By Jan Worth-Nelson Flint’s new poet laureate Semaj Brown will present a poetry and prose reading at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Kiva Auditorium at the University of Michigan – Flint. The event, sponsored by the UM – Flint English Department, is free and open to the public. Also part of the evening will…
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Poet, artist, teacher Semaj Brown named Flint’s first poet laureate
By Jan Worth-Nelson Semaj Brown, a poet, author, scientist, educator and artist, was named Flint’s first poet laureate Friday night by proclamation of Mayor Karen Weaver. Brown, originally from Detroit, arrived in Flint in 2003 after marrying family physician James Brown and has since become a devoted community activist and much-beloved spoken word performer What…
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Review: Riveting Semaj Brown “bleeds fire” at Mott Warsh Gallery performance
By Jan Worth-Nelson Facing lies, atrocities and daily affronts to self-love and spiritual peace, “we have to tap that eternal spring of regenerative light,” Flint poet, artist, musician, scientist and activist Semaj Brown implored a rapt audience Aug. 21 at the Mott-Warsh Gallery, 815 Saginaw St. Brown, who moved to Flint from her hometown Detroit…
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