Elm City LIT Fest artwork

Elm City LIT Fest

31 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago -

Join us in a conversation with the creators in the exploration and celebration of the literature and culture of people of the African Diaspora.

Check out the video on Youtube @https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaGNhdO5QdvSyH5rVXYjApLZA3Vpuyg2M

Books Arts Society & Culture arts culture black bipoc african african american literature book club black stories
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Episodes

On Creativity out of tragedy: Interruptions w/ Reverend Odell Montgomery Cooper

April 10, 2022 23:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MB

LITFest Founder IfeMichelle Gardin in conversation with Playwright  & Author Odell Montgomery Cooper on her play, book and coping process. 

Sharika Forde on her range of Literary work | S2E9

March 27, 2022 23:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MB

LITFest Founder IfeMichelle Gardin in conversation with Connecticut based Poet / Author Sharika Forde about the origin of her body of work.

Conversation with Novelist Nicole Blades | S2E8

March 13, 2022 23:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

LITFest Founder IfeMichelle Gardin in conversation with Connecticut based Novelist Nicole Blades on her creative journey, the  intense liberation of her characters and the stories behind the novels. ** This video was pre-recorded **

Kulture of the African Diaspora is Black History all the Time | S2E7

February 28, 2022 13:11 - 1 hour - 56.3 MB

KulturallyLIT / Elm City LITFest Founder, IfeMichelle Gardin and Poet Activist Abiodun Oyewole discuss the significance and effect the African Diaspora always prevalent in Global Culture. https://www.abiodunoyewole.net/  (website) @poet_abiodun (twitter) @lastpoet_abiodun (instagram)

DiasporaCon Preview

February 24, 2022 01:39 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MB

Like comics? Join Kulturally LIT founder Ife Michelle Gardin with Awntie J and Dr. Bill Foster as they give a preview of the LIT DiasporaCon coming soon to the New Haven area.

Authors and Diaspora LIT Directors: Jael Richardson, Lisa D. Gray & IfeMichelle Gardin | S2E5

December 06, 2021 01:21 - 1 hour - 57 MB

Canadian Author, Activist, Speaker and Teacher, Executive Director and Founder of Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) Jael Richardson AND Writer, Social Justice Warrior and Executive Director of Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation (VONA) Lisa D. Gray in conversation with  Artivist and Elm City LITFest Founder IfeMichelle Gardin on the Power of LITerature of the African Diaspora.   We will also discuss Jael’s books.  The dystopian novel Gutter Child, the memoir THE STONE THROWER: ...

Vibes from the Sun | Elm City LIT Fest Podcast | S2E4

December 02, 2021 22:23 - 1 hour - 57.1 MB

Poetry Performance and discussion on the release of Poet Sun Queen’s new book, her work and all the products of the Sun 

An inner look at Zora Neale Hurston | S2E3

November 21, 2021 19:53 - 38 minutes - 35.9 MB

Join us in this exciting conversation between Dr. William Foster and Ms. Lucy Hurston - Niece of Ms. Zora Neale Hurston. ** Recorded Live at People Get READy Bookstore - September 12, 2021 **

National Black Black Poetry Day Continues | S2E2

November 21, 2021 19:49 - 1 hour - 55.2 MB

LITFest Founder IfeMichelle Gardin and Editor/Radio Personality Babz Rawls-Ivy discuss and recite poetry and poets of the African Diaspora.

Elm City LIT Fest: Anna Nyakana - Author and Entrepreneur of Niyah Zuri book Series

October 12, 2021 13:23 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MB

Discussion with Anna Nyakana, CT based Author Entrepreneur  on her children’s book series Niya Zuri and the journey as an Author Entrepreneur. https://annanyakana.com/home Anna Nyakana @Niyah_Zuri https://www.instagram.com/niyah_zuri/ https://www.facebook.com/NiyahZuri https://www.youtube.com/niyahzuri

Celebrating Black Motherhood Beyond a Day in May

May 03, 2021 18:17 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MB

Profound Legacy Poets Jessica Care Moore and Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets in conversation about celebrating Black Motherhood and the stress they carry for their children’s lives 

**BONUS** Poet, Author, Educator Marilyn Nelson Book Release

April 21, 2021 12:17 - 1 hour - 60.9 MB

In this SPECIAL EPISODE Elm City LIT Fest welcomes our friends from People Get Ready Book Store as they celebrate with poet, author, and educator Marilyn Nelson on the release of her new book "Papa's Free Day Party"

Black Men, HipHop Educators, Poets, and Creatives on continuing to survive the racism in amerikka!

April 19, 2021 00:38 - 1 hour - 63.8 MB

Dr. Don Sawyer, HipHop Educator / Activist, Devon Glover “Sonnet Man” Educator, Hip Hip Poet Artist, Josh Brown “An Urban Nerd” Educator/Poet Artist speak on the effect of racism in amerikka on their creativity and lives. Guest 1:   Dr. Don C. Sawyer III is the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.  He is a tenured associate professor in the department of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences and...

2021 National Poetry Month: LIT POETRY

April 05, 2021 12:52 - 1 hour - 70.5 MB

Beatboxing Poetry and Spittin’ with  Bridgeport based G.A.N.G. Poets group Spittin’ their words in Celebration of  National Poetry Month. Bios Guest 1: Yalan Sesay  Hailing from New Jersey, Yalan Sesay is a 27 year old vocal percussionist and poet who resides in the Ward 8 District of Washington, DC. From a young age Yalan has been practicing and honing his craft of beatboxing in various street performances, and open mics. He recently just started poetry under the tutelage of the...

Black Women's Evolution to Becoming Resilient

March 23, 2021 18:48 - 1 hour - 57.3 MB

Stacy Graham-Hunt, a New Haven native, is an author and award-winning columnist, honored by the National Association of Black Journalists for her stories about race and identity. She is passionate about Black people telling their own stories and preserving their own history. She's shared her own stories about overcoming failed relationships, humiliation and shame on her blog, ProcessingPain.com, which she later published as a book, Processing Pain. Stacy is the membership director ...

Black Women in Theater

March 16, 2021 16:38 - 1 hour - 56.2 MB

Discussion with rising Black Women Playwrights a.k. Payne & Abigail Onwunali about their work and the future of Black Theater. Abigail C. Onwunali (she/her/hers)- Actor/Poet/Writer. Abigail is a second-year MFA Acting student at the Yale School of Drama. In undergrad, at the University of Texas at Austin, she is one of the most accomplished performers in the history of forensics, having won 13 collegiate national titles across four different interpretation categories over her 4 yea...

Hip Hop Studies & Activism

March 16, 2021 16:31 - 1 hour - 56.4 MB

Dr. Don C. Sawyer III is the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.  He is a tenured associate professor in the department of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences and assistant clinical professor in the Frank H. Netter, MD, School of Medicine.  He teaches courses on Race, Education, Popular Culture, and Social Research Methods, including the university’s first course dedicated to the sociological ...

Pearl & Her Gee’s Bend Quilt

March 16, 2021 16:25 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MB

Tangular Irby is a Connecticut educator, author, quilter, and descendant of Gee’s Bend  quilters, Tangular A. Irby announced the release of her debut children’s books, Pearl and Her Gee’s  Bend Quilt and Pearl and Her Gee’s Bend Quilt: Coloring and Activity Book (On sale: 12/25/2020;  Learning Advantage Network, Paperback Originals). Pearl and Her Gee’s Bend Quilt is a  heartwarming tale told through the eyes of a child who has spent hours watching her grandmother  work her magic wi...

Every Kinda Lady and Her Sister Pages

March 16, 2021 16:08 - 1 hour - 70.9 MB

Nzima Hutchings is an award-winning poetess for her work in the 2009, Freshwater Poetry Journal; an Expressive Writing and Literary Art Wellness Coach.  She is a Visionary, Founder and Sole owner of Every Kinda Lady Co.  Nzima is an active member of the National Association for Poetry Therapy, a Certified Sexual Assault Counselor, and Community Advocate for Trinity Health of New England.  She has written six books and several journals including Every Kinda Lady Expressive Writing Pr...

Dew Drops of Destiny: A Plethora of Prayers, Promises and Proclamations

January 11, 2021 01:24 - 1 hour - 55.6 MB

Inspirational messages from book by author Joshua DeSousa . Joshua De Sousa from Orange, New Jersey, is a ghostwriter, preacher, and newly published author! He is the owner of a writing ministry and business, Sousa Scribal Solutions, where many have benefited from his visionary skill set as a ghostwriter, writing coach, and the founder of the Supernatural Scribes Writing Conference! This is also Joshua’s newly released book and devotional, Dew Drops of Destiny, is available on Amaz...

It’s Black Noir; Let’s talk mystery, thriller and intrigue

December 21, 2020 19:42 - 1 hour - 56.6 MB

Kenji Jasper and Christopher Chambers will discuss their books and the genre of Black Noir with Lisa Gray and Elm City LIT Fest Team: Ife, Emalie and Shamaine Episode Guest Info: Guest 1:    Kenji Jasper is an author, journalist and screenwriter whose work has appeared in Essence, Ebony, VIBE and on National Public Radio.  His first novel, Dark, was a Washington Post bestseller and he has earned praise for his books, Cake, The House on Childress Street and his co-editing of the an...

Conversation with Universes!

December 21, 2020 19:39 - 1 hour - 55.5 MB

Conversation with Steve and Mildred Sapp the Poet/Performer/Creators of Universes Theater Company in Residence at Oregon Shakespeare Company.

Locked Grey Linked Blue

December 21, 2020 19:38 - 1 hour - 76.6 MB

Kem Joy Okwu will discuss her inspiration for the inspirational stories she shares.

Introducing: Tarell A. McCraney, Chair of Playwriting at the Yale School of Drama

December 21, 2020 19:37 - 1 hour - 59.1 MB

Tarell will share how his hometown of Miami, his time as a Yale School of Drama student learning under the wing of August Wilson/current role as a department chair at Yale School of Drama, and the racial trauma of COVID + national attention on the safety of Black lives inform his storytelling.

LITeracy is LIT

December 21, 2020 19:35 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MB

Discussion with Valerie Williams – Sanchez about her study on “How Reading Builds Empathy” and her Children’s Book series.

Kids Are LIT!

December 21, 2020 19:34 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MB

Discussion with Dr. John about starting LaurenSimone Publishing along with readings from 3 Authors represented by her company. Lauren Simone Publishing House is a black-owned, mother and daughter, publishing service. The mission of Lauren Simone Publishing House is to publish the works of diverse authors and illustrators. Lauren Simone Publishing House is invested in engaging children in stories written by nontraditional authors; expanding the diversity of groups not often represen...

It's Festival Time!!!

December 21, 2020 19:32 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

Join the team planning the Elm City LIT Festival as they discuss the plans, the inspiration and the expectations from this first year of the festival.

Connecting Black Arts & Culture in dis-Connecticut

December 21, 2020 19:31 - 1 hour - 68.1 MB

Discussion about connecting, maintaining, cultivating and promoting Black Arts Culture in dis-Connecticut. Today's guests is: Juanita - Creative Artist /Founder Cultured AF (As Fuck) New London, CT Cultured AF is a social hub and creative platform. We are artists & creatives producing content, building community, and curating unique experiences that bridge the gap between the art world and black culture. https://www.culturedaf.life/

The Significance of Black Literature and Black Books

December 21, 2020 19:30 - 1 hour - 61 MB

Mosaic Literary Conference Director Ron Cavanaugh and New Haven Free Public Library Manager (Mitchell Branch) Marion Huggins will discuss the importance of promoting literature from the African Diaspora

CT Female Spoken Word Artists

December 21, 2020 19:28 - 1 hour - 60.1 MB

Sun Queen is a poet, an artist, and an inspirational messenger. On a daily basis you can find Sun on social media and in real life being nothing but pure and true to her authentic self. Sun Queen is currently in the process of writing and self-publishing a book of poetry. Many have described her work as “beautifully capturing with divine insight.” Through her passion and love for advocacy and guidance, she plans to help others be able to share their stories. Sun is one of the co-fo...

The Spirituality of Writing Poetry

December 21, 2020 19:27 - 1 hour - 64.5 MB

Poets Keisha-Gaye Anderson and Antoinette Brim-Bell talk about the Spirituality of Creating their work

Twitter Mentions

@niyah_zuri 1 Episode