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Lillian Allen

 

Member profile details

Membership level
Full
First name
Lillian
Last name
Allen
Country
Canada
 

ABOUT

Profile picture
Biography
Lil’s short BIO

LILLIAN ALLEN- Doctor of Canadian Letters and Godmother of Everything - Toronto's poet laureate 2023 -2026

Lillian Allen is an acclaimed foremother of Canadian Poetry. Poet, writer/performer, and long-time arts activist, Lillian is an international exponent of dub poetry with its politically charged reggae-infused aesthetic of resistance and visionary futures. Lillian has also been a successful Cultural Strategist, contributing to the International Cultural Diversity Agenda and playing a key role in transforming the Toronto and Canadian cultural landscapes. A mentor to the mentors for individuals and groups across many cultures, she brings her critical and effective equity and community-building strategies to institutions such as OCAD University. A creative writing professor at OCAD University, she initiated and led the development of a BFA in Creative Writing Program that acknowledges community-connected writing, and traditional and new writing forms.
Over the decades, she created opportunities for new generations of artists and initiated and led community-building youth-supporting programs as Fresh Elements and Fresh Arts. She has received numerous accolades and awards, including being the recipient of an Honourary doctorate in recognition of outstanding contribution to Canadian Literature (from Wilfrid Laurier University), the Toronto Cultural Champions Award, The Margo Bindhardt Award for significantly impacting the arts in Toronto through both creative work and activism, the William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations.
Lillian is the author of Make the World New- selected works, old & new, edited by Ronald Cummings, WLU Press 2021, other books include Women Do This Every Day, Psychic Unrest, plus books and recordings for children and young people. Also, a globally recognized recording artist, Ms. Allen is a two-time Canadian Juno award winner for her recordings Conditions Critical, and Revolutionary Tea Party which was recently nominated for the prestigious Polaris Heritage Prize in Canada.
Lillian's poetry has appeared in several dozen magazines and anthologies and recordings of her poetry have been played on hundreds of radio stations worldwide.
www.LillianAllen.ca
Self-identification: equity-deserving groups
  • Black
 

PUBLICATIONS AND RECOGNITION

Books and other publications
Selected Publications
De dub poets (recording), 1984.
Curfew Inna B.C. (cassette), 1985.
Revolutionary Tea Party (album), 1986.
If You See Truth. (Frontline, 1987).
Let the Heart See (cassette), 1987.
Conditions Critical (album), 1988.
Nothing But a Hero. (University of Toronto Press, 1992; cassette, 1992).
Why Me. (Well Versed Publications, 1991).
Women Do This Every Day. (Women's Press, 1993).
Freedom & Dance. (CD), 1999.

Books in Print
Allen, Lillian
Nothing But A Hero, Well Versed Publication, 1992 ISBN 1-895248-03-5
Why Me? Well Versed Publications, 1991. $5.95 ISBN: 1-895248-02-7.
Women Do This Every Day. Women's Press, 1993. $12.95 ISBN: 0-88961-192-0.
Psychic Unrest, Insomniac Press, 1999. ISBN 1-895837-55-3
Make the World New Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2022. $18.00 ISBN 978-1-77112-495-9
Awards and other achievements
Juno Award, recordings of poetry with music, 1986, 1988.
Margo Bindhardt Award, 1998.
Poetic forms and styles
  • Print poetry
  • Spoken word
Other writing expertise
  • Playwright
  • Screenwriting
Additional writing experience
Experimental writing
Dub poetry
 

BOOK THIS POET TODAY

Contact poet directly
416-651-7418

Lillian Allen has several awards and citations for her writing and performances. She lectures, speaks, and performs to a wide range of groups and communities across Canada, Internationally; UK Europe, the US, and the Caribbean. She has extensive teaching and workshop experience with students, young people of all ages and adults from all walks of life.

Grade Levels: all

Fees: $500.00

Classroom Approach:

Allen's approach involves techniques that teach young people to develop their own artistic vision. Students are encouraged to give expression to personal, social, cultural as well as artistic values. With creativity and innovation, students explore language and rhythms and apply these to the art of writing poetry and creative, expressive writing. Students will generate several individual pieces as well as group work.
Poets in the Schools (Ontario)
  • Poets in the Schools (primary grades)
International bookings
Contact
WWW.LillianAllen.CA