Spoken Word Poetry Institute Celebration featuring Jillian Hanesworth & Steve Kuusisto

The Spoken Word Poetry Institute brings together leading poets and activists using the medium of spoken word to engage Syracuse University and SUNY ESF students. Campus community members are invited to the Institute’s opening celebration, which will feature poets Jillian Hanesworth and Steve Kuusisto. The event will begin with student performances, followed by a panel led by Director of the Disability Cultural Center Carrie Ingersoll-Wood and performances by Hanesworth and Kuusisto. The Poetic Icon Award will also be presented to Kuusisto.

Students interested in participating in the Spoken Word Poetry Institute writing workshop on Saturday, Oct. 29, can email Cedric Bolton to participate.

About Jillian Hanesworth

Jillian Hanesworth was born and raised on the East side of Buffalo, NY. She began writing at the age of 7, when she would write songs for her mother to sing in church. She later took a break from writing to successfully pursue educational goals, and worked to obtain a BA in criminal justice and law focusing on reform. In January of 2017, Jillian committed herself to social change through art, thus began her poetry career. Since then, Jillian has performed over 200 times, in Buffalo, NY, NYC, Baltimore, MD, Toronto, and everywhere in between. She has let her passion lead her mission empower listeners to take part in demanding and creating sustainable systemic change. Currently, Jillian is the founder of Literary Freedom, LLC, a community activist and organizer and the first ever Poet Laureate in the history of Buffalo after she spent two years advocating for the existence of the role. Jillian loves and lives for the community and exemplifies that in all that she does.

About Steve Kuusisto

Professor Stephen Kuusisto, who has been blind since birth, is the author of “Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening” and the acclaimed memoir “Planet of the Blind”, a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”. He has also published “Only Bread, Only Light”, a collection of poems from Copper Canyon Press.

Recognized by the New York Times as “a powerful writer with a musical ear for language and a gift for emotional candor,” Steve has made numerous appearances on programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline NBC, National Public Radio and the BBC. A graduate of the “Writer’s Workshop” at the University of Iowa, and a Fulbright Scholar, Steve holds the position of University Professor and director of interdisciplinary programs and outreach at the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. He speaks widely on diversity, disability, education, and public policy.

His essays and poems have appeared in numerous anthologies and literary magazines including Harper’s’ The New York Times Magazine; Poetry; and Partisan Review. He is currently working on a collection of prose poems for Copper Canyon Press entitled “Mornings With Borges” as well as a collection of political poems about disability. Kuusisto’s essays and poems have appeared in numerous anthologies and literary magazines including:

•  Harper’s
• The New York Times Magazine
• Poetry
• The Bark
• Partisan Review
• The Washington Post Magazine

He has appeared on:

• The Oprah Winfrey Show
• Dateline NBC
• The Leeza Gibbons Show
• The BBC
• The Voice of America
• “Talk of the Nation” on National Public Radio
• Animal Planet
• The Arts & Entertainment Network