Theresa Davis
Educator, Author, Poet, Pirate
Teaching Artist
ArtsXchange Literary Program Director
Java Speaks Open Mic Host
2013- Present -Poetry @Tech Outreach Coordinator for Positive Impact
About Theresa
Born into a family of writers and entertainers, Theresa Davis was drawn to the arts. She has expressed her artistic abilities in several mediums. She designed and created Ebony Angels (a line of hand-crafted dolls) , Mental Notes (hand-crafted books) and started a clothing line for children. A classroom teacher for over 20 years, she currently teaches poetry to youth and adults in the Atlanta Area. In 2002, Theresa joined forces with her mother and brother to form the spoken word performance group MoDaSo (Mother/ Daughter/ Son) and released two music CD's This is for Family and The Uncivil War. She has self published several (7) collections of poetry including Rock Star Poet,Head Games and Simon Says.
In March of 2011, Theresa set out to compete in the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Columbus Ohio. After three days of competition, she won, becoming the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion.
In recognition of her years of activism on behalf of Atlanta’s youth, she was honored by the City of Atlanta with a proclamation, declaring May 22, “Theresa Davis Day in Atlanta”. In July 2012, in partnership with the City of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Theresa released her chapbook “Simon Says”--poems about teaching with anti-bullying themes.
The same year, Theresa was named the 2012 McEver Chair in Poetry at Georgia Tech University. According to the GA Tech website: “In addition to teaching Tech students, each visiting chair will reach into the community with a program of poetry events and workshops designed to recognize poetry for its possibilities in all our lives and to recognize those involved in the craft of writing poetry--whether accomplished, rising, or beginning--for the artists they are.”
In May 2013, her first full collection of poems entitled “After This We Go Dark” was published by Sibling Rivalry Press. “After This We Go Dark” became an American Library Association Honoree, and the book can now be checked out in local and college libraries around the world. Theresa spent most of 2014 on tour With Shyla Hardwick on “The Huemyn Tour”. She was featured as the opening performance poet for the band Rising Appalachia for their 2014 national tour.
Her second collection of poetry "Drowned: A Mermaid's Manifesto" released in September 2016 by Sibling Rivalry Press has been awarded the honor of being on the 2017 list of All Books Georgians Should Read.
Her children Imani , Tia and Zion are her constant sources of energy and inspiration.
RESUME
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
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The Story Moth - August 2017 (Caution)
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Creative Loafing Best of Poetry/ Spoken Word Atlanta 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017
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Books All Georgian's Should Read 2017
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The Story Moth - March 2016
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TEDx Peachtree 2015
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Creative Loafing Best of Spoken Word 2015
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TEDx Poetry Salon Slam Champion 2015
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LEAF Slam Champion Spring and Fall 2014
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Bayou City Slam Champion Houston Texas 2013
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Emerging Artist Grant 2012
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Ga. Voice "Best of Atlanta Poetry" 2011
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Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion 2011
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Atlanta Art Amok Slam Team Grand Champion 2011
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Art Amok Slam Winner 2006, 2007 (Captain), 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
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SOVO "Best of Gay Atlanta Poetry/Spoken Word 2009
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Java Monkey Speaks Slam winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
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LEAF Slam Finalist 07, 08, 09
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Voted Best of Atlanta Spoken Word by Creative Loafing 2008 and 2009
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National Poetry Slam, Austin Texas (Semi-Finalist Team) August 2007
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Camp Coca Cola 07
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Slamming in the Suburbs third place 2/2007
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Southern Slam Queen Finalist 3/07
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Rustbelt Slam, Columbus Ohio 7/07
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Pride Atlanta 2007,2008,
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Queer Slam Atlanta Pride/ winner
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Atlanta Black Pride 2008,2009, 2010, 2012, 2015
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Black Pride Charlotte 09
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Best of Gay Atlanta Spoken Word/ Southern Voice 2009
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Best of Gay Atlanta Spoken Word / Ga. Voice 2011
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Performances (Partial List)
The Moth Atlanta
Georgia Center for the Book
BCG (Keynote address)
Decatur Book Festival
Write Club Atlanta
Tease Tuesday
Java Monkey Speaks 2002- present
Fox Theater w Rising Appalachia, Atlanta GA
The Orange Peel w Rising Appalacia, Asheville NC
Colorado State University
Nebraska School System
University of Utah
Cliterati / Charis Books and More
House of IntegriTEA
Seven Stages Theater
United States Social Forum
Portfolio Center
Lady Fest South
Eddie's Attic
Apache Cafe
Antioch University
Agnes Scott College
Emory University
Spelman College
Morehouse College
The Vagina Monologues w/ Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda and Pearl Cleage
Men Stopping Violence 07,08,09
WAND
AQLF
Decatur Book Festival
School of the Americas Watch 07, 08, 09
Wish You Were Here w/ Jon Goode 2010
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Publications ( Partial List)
Drowned: A Mermaid's Manifesto
After This We Go Dark
This Assignment is so Gay
Multiverse
Red Reads First
The Truth About Jaguars (chapbook)
That's What She Said CD recording
Rock Star Poet DVD
Theresa Davis is a Poemosexual Live @Eddie's Attic
Java Monkey Speaks Anthology 2005, 2008, 2009,
2011
Crux a Conversation from South Africa to South USA
Rock Star Poet (Chapbook) 2007
Touched live CD recording 2006
Cover of Labrys Magazine
Head Games (Chapbook) 2005
MoDaSo This is for Family and The Uncivil War 2004
Torn (Chapbook)2004
Estrology
Inner Lives Anthology Volume #1 October 2011
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Conference Presentations ( Partial List)
Decatur Book Festival 2011- 2018
Arkansas Women Writer's Conference 2016
Nebraska Writer's Conference 2015
Kentucky Women's Conference 2014
The United States Social Forum 2007
The United States Children’s Forum 2007
National Poetry Slam Austin Texas 2006, 2007
Dallas Invitational Poetry Slam 2006, 2007
Georgia Progressive Summit ‘The Art of Politics” 2006, 2007
AWP Conference 07
Peace Education Day The Friends School 07, 08
Camp Coca Cola 07
Art as Politic
Georgia Progressive Summit
Saints and Sinners Literary Conference 08, 09
Split This Rock Literary Festival
AWP Conference 08
Curriculum Pedagogy Conference 08,09
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FILM
"Queer Moxie" 2016
"3 Minute Activist" 2014
Documentary "The Shadow Behind the Rainbow" Spelman College 2011