upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024
In conjunction with the 2015 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, Leeway hosted the Third Annual Trans Literary Salon on June 4. Highlighting the work of emerging literary artists from a diversity of genres including poetry, fiction, memoir, and spoken word. Featured Performers: poet Cyrée Johnson (ACG '13), sci-fi writer Maggie Eighteen (ACG '14), poet, Kavindu Ade, performer Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi, and writer/activist, Tyler Vile. Co-curated and Hosted by Annie Mok (LTA '14, ACG '13), and J Mase III (ACG ’07).
Kavindu Ade
Kavindu Ade is a 24 year old Wordsmith, Jedi, and Black Boy Extraordinaire. Born in Brooklyn, NY to Afro-Caribbean immigrants his poetry is a dance between cultures. While best known for his gender identity poem entitled “IT,” Kavi’s work centers on his navigation of intersecting identities - among those, the relation of his Blackness to his transcendence of gender. Through his poetry the world unfolds itself into moments of cruelty, but also beauty, wonder, and becoming. Kavi has been performing since 2009 when he made his debut into the spoken word scene at Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam. After two consecutive years competing on the international stage Kavi went on to coach the Philly Youth Poetry Slam Team that competes at BNV. He is also the coach of Temple University’s Slam Team. Kavi has performed at conferences from Vancouver, Washington to Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has had the pleasure of gracing the stage at Grinnell College, Rutgers University, Ursinus College, and Clark University among others. Off stage, he is probably in his room enjoying a good bowl of cereal, binge watching detective shows, or posting his best attempts at immaculate selfies.