Join award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni for The Second Annual Ashley Bryan Lecture . Giovanni has published more than two dozen volumes of poetry, essays, and edited anthologies, as well as 11 illustrated children’s books. Giovanni has used her poetry to raise awareness of social issues, particularly those of gender and race. Pieces of her poetry were selected by Bryan to illustrate for the children’s book “I Am Loved.”

Giovanni has received numerous awards, including the inaugural Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, the American Book Award, the Langston Hughes Award, the Virginia Governor’s Award for the Arts, and the Emily Couric Leadership Award. Her album, “The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection,” was a Grammy finalist for the Best Spoken Word Album and her autobiography, “Gemini,” was a finalist for the 1973 National Book Award. In addition she writes, “I am very proud to have authored 3 New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestsellers, highly unusual for a poet.” She has won an unprecedented seven NAACP Image Awads. She is currently University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, where she has taught since 1987.

The Annual Ashley Bryan Lecture is named in honor of the late printmaker, author, puppet maker, painter, story teller and illustrator Ashley Bryan, who devoted his life to bringing people together through art. This yearly lecture brings a distinguished artist or critic of color whose work reflects similarly this deep interest in racial equity to discuss that work with the Downeast Maine community.