Deanna Smith
Literary
Specialities: Haiku, Historical Perspectives, Spoken Word/Slam Poetry
Contact Info
Email address
Website address
Resides in
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Experience working with
Student In
- Early childhood
- Cycle 1 Elementary
- Cycle 2 Elementary
- Cycle 3 Elementary
- Secondary 1 & 2
- Secondary 3 & 4
- Secondary 5
- CEGEP
Lifelong Learners
- Adult Learners
I regularly explore the following Broad Areas of Learning/Themes in my work
- Health and Wellbeing
- Personal and Career Planning
- Environmental Awareness and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
- Media Literacy
- Citizenship and Community Life (Identity & Belonging)
I've received CHSSN Mental Health Initiative training for:
- Youth
Listed in the Quebec Culture in the Schools Repertoire
- Yes
I have experience working with
- ELAN’s ACE Initiative
- Quebec Writers’ Federation’s Writers in the Communities Program
- Poetry in Voice. Overture with the Arts.
I can facilitate virtual creative experiences
- Yes
Travel
- I am available for travel within the same day
Other ELAN ArtEd Links
Stories and News:- Dealing with Anti-Black Racism through a Poetry Workshop
- A New Africana Studies Collection at Laval Senior Academy!
- ELAN’s ArtEd Program: March Magic – The Power of the Word
I love words and believe in their power to bring people together. I write poetry and stories for children, hoping that if they get the truth about how much we have in common early enough, it will stay with them in strong opposition to everything to the contrary. I am a poet, married to a poet, surrounded by poets. I am a 5th generation Canadian who thinks in two colonial languages. For that reason, I am always looking for other ways to say what needs to be said.
Creative Approach and Experiences Offered
I love people and I believe that everyone has a story to tell. Listening to people's stories benefits the teller and the listener. It's just good for us. I want people to laugh or cry, to remember and understand that whatever happened, they are (hopefully) safe in the present and wiser for what they've learned.I offer poetry/creative writing/spoken word/slam workshops for people age 4 and up. Three-year-olds rarely take metaphor seriously! I offer performance coaching and feedback for works in progress. I encourage exploration of the works of minority and often marginalized writers.
Writing prompts may consist of visuals, music, physical actions, small objects, quotes or literature. Even if topics are emotional or provocative in nature, one of my goals is the celebration of transcendence. We can all get better.
One-Day Event Description
I would be happy to curate a one-day event for your school.OPTIONS:
-An artist talk about my life as a writer, sharing my influences, inspirations, and writing process. A Q & A would follow.
-Several poetry workshops lasting 60-90 minutes (or 45 minutes for younger groups) on the topics of current events, BHM, or other subjects relevant to your school's community and mission.
These would lean towards performance/spoken word/slam
- Short performance and Q & A
Surprise bonus offerings are also possible. 😉
Video
Jason Bolanis