Slam Poetry Reading with Dominique Ashaheed

6 Oct 2012 - "Multi-faceted" hardly describes the celebrated talent of Dominique, but it's a word that will have to do. In 1996 the volleyball star, after suffering an injury during the opening ceremony match of the Olympic games, still took center stage as a featured vocalist for those opening ceremonies.Toting double Masters degrees in English Lit and Education, Dominique has worked as an educator, cultural media director, children's advocate, and non-profit program director (currently for Peace Jam). As a poet and jazz/R&B vocalist, she has shared stages with artists like Joe Bonner, the Flobots, Dead Prez, Saul Williams, Liza Garza, and Staceyann Chin. Dominique began slamming in February 2011 when longtime friend and nationally recognized poet, Ayinde Russell coaxed her into trying. Within a month she qualified herself for the Slam Nuba team that went on to win the title in August 2011 and then seven months later she claimed the National title again at the Women of the World Poetry Slam Championship held in Denver, Colorado March 2012. She is presently the only person to hold two national titles at the same time. This event was presented by the Muslims in the Mountain West Project during the conference "Muslim Voices in the Heartland", a 3-day event featuring discussion panels with local, regional and national Muslim writers, journalists, scholars, and activists. This event is hosted by the Center for Media, Religion and Culture and the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.