Relax and Listen: An evening of literary readings with Theresa and Hasan Davis.
Friday, February 7 | 7pm- 9pm
$10 in advance | $15 at the door
Theresa Davis
Theresa Davis is an author and performance poet residing in Atlanta Georgia. She is the mother of three brilliant huemyns Imani, Tia and Zion who are a constant source of inspiration and pride. An educator for over 20 years, Davis now combines her teaching and writing styles to teach poetry workshops for teens and adults. A veteran slam poet, she held the title of Women of the World Slam Champion in 2011. Drowned: A Mermaid’s Manifesto, her second book of poetry with Sibling Rivalry Press, was voted as one of 2017 Books All Georgians Should Read. Creative Loafing voted her Best Local Poet and Best Spoken Word Artist, many times. She is the host of the award winning open mic Java Speaks in Decatur, and Art Amok Slam at the Red Light Cafe. Theresa also produces Poems and Pasties and MadMen & Poets variety shows focused on collaborating with the thriving Atlanta performance arts community.
Hasan Davis
Hasan’s interest in the arts began as a young child watching his parents Alice Lovelace and Charles ‘Jikki’ Riley perform in the living room, on a crowded stage, or at art festivals. His mother encouraged him to explore his own voice and chronicle his experience as a young black man facing multiple social challenges. Words may have saved his life, allowing him a medium to balance his experience in a mad world. After an early arrest and eventual expulsion from Alternative school, Hasan Earned his GED and set out remake his world. Hasan moved to Kentucky to attend Berea College. Although he was expelled twice, he returned a third time, determined to prove that failure would not be his legacy. Hasan went on to earn his BA degree from Berea College and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
Hasan has been a teaching artist (theater and writing) with the Kentucky Arts Council, a touring artist with Alternate R.O.O.T.S. and a Chautauqua (touring Actor/Scholar) presenter with the Kentucky Humanities Council, Missouri Humanities council and Colorado Humanities. He is a founding board member of Kentuckians for the Arts, former Chair and current Executive Committee member for Alternate R.O.O.T.S. He has researched, written and produced three Chautauqua Living History programs and has performed more than 500 shows in 37 states. In 2016 Hasan wrote his first Book, Written Off: How One Man’s Journey Through disability, delinquency, and poverty are transforming The Juvenile Justice System. He has recently published a children’s book about York, The Black Explorer of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and is completing his first collection of poetry.
Hasan has been recognized for his professional and personal efforts serving the needs of youth through his work across education, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems. He is a Rockefeller Foundation, Next Generation Leadership Fellow, a Council of State Governments, Henry Toll Fellow, and an Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children and Family Fellow.
In 2008 Hasan joined the executive leadership team of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice as Deputy Commissioner of Operation. In 2012 Hasan became Kentucky’s fifth Commissioner of Juvenile Justice. During his tenure as Commissioner, Hasan insured that youth in the system had access to creative outlets from Mural projects to Shakespeare Behind Bars. More importantly, he was instrumental in moving Juvenile Justice reform in Kentucky. Senate Bill 200, which enacted sweeping juvenile reform, was signed into law in April of 2014 and is now transforming Kentucky’s juvenile justice and other youth-serving systems.
For more than 30 years Hasan has inspired and motivated youth across the nation, weaving his personal journey of transformation from Hasan Davis Juvenile Delinquent to Hasan Davis Juris Doctor, with humor and honesty. He is also in high demand as a keynote speaker and consultant to youth agencies and school districts wanting to get their teams fired up and excited about the important work they do each day in the service of youth and students. He currently lives in Berea Kentucky with his wife , Dreama and their two sons, Malcolm and Christopher.
