Aurora Harris Bio

Aurora Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan. She is of African American Filipina heritage. She holds a M.A. in Social Foundations of Education with a concentration in Cultural Studies from Eastern Michigan University and a B.A. in Sociology from Wayne State University. As a graduate assistant, she served as the Editorial Assistant for Educational Studies: A Journal of the American Educational Studies Association. Ms Harris also served as a Co-Chair of the Diversity Comittee of the National Writers Union, a Teacher / Facilitator of Wayne State University's Civic Literacy-Youth Urban Agenda Program, member and coach of the Detroit National Poetry Slam Teams (1995-2004), and teacher / juror for the State of Michigan's Poetry Outloud youth poetry recitation competition (2006, 2007).

Ms Harris is an award winning, internationally known published poet, educator, mentor, and community worker. Her poetry regarding women, labor, jazz, African American and Filipino life appears in several poetry anthologies and journals: New Working Class Studies (2005); Poet In The House (2005); Abandon Automobile (2001); Tilting The Continent: An Anthology of Southeast Asian American Literature (2000); DrumVoices Review (2000).

Ms Harris serves as a Board member for Broadside Press and is the hostess of the Broadside Press Poets’ Theater at the University of Detroit-Mercy. Freelance work includes copywriting and being an On Air Talent / Reporter for Encode Media Group, Inc.

Projects for 2009 include:

Dec. 2009: Jazz / Poetry. In The Tradition Jazz band's CD release party at Alvin's in Detroit for "The Tradition Continues." Wrote the poem "Yurugu" for the song "Yurugu" on track 9 in memory of Victoria Alexander Baritone Saxophonist.

Dec. 2009: Health Care/ Health Care Reform. See YouTube, Aurora Harris "On Deaf Ears". Aurora.mov
A video recording of excerpts of a poem regarding health and health care posted by Southeast Michigan Jobs With Justice.

Dec. 2009: Education and Career Day. Presented for USATA at Mt Vernon Baptist Church, Detroit, MI.

Nov. 2009: Gender/Sex/Hip-Hop. Invited panelist with Dr. Chris Gilliard, rapper Miz Korona and DJ Sicari Ware to discuss Byron Hurt's film "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes."

Sept. 2009: Community Race Relations Discussion. Invited panelist for The Michigan Front Page's "Real Talk With MFP: Dispelling the Myths.

Aug. 2009: The State of Michigan's Idlewild, Michigan Historical Landmarking Celebration. Wrote and read the pantun poem "Calling All Idlewilders."

June - July 2009: I served as a Broadside Press Community Partner for SEMIS providing professional development regarding Eco Justice and poetry to teachers at the Nsoroma Academy K-8 school. I created the blog for the school and poetry lessons utilizing the Great Lakes. See nsoromacommunity.blogspot.com

May 2009: International News. Interviewed Amina Saluum Ali, the first female Ambassador of The African Union.

April 2009: 1960's-1970's Detroit Print Culture Masters Thesis project of Monika Berenyi-University of Amsterdam. Was interviewed with Broadside Press Board members Chris Rutherford, Dr. Gloria House, and Albert M. Ward. I read John Coltrane poems from my chapbook "What Words Are There?" c.2001. The poems were recorded by poet John Sinclair for his radio program in Amsterdam. See www.radiofreeamsterdam.com Show # 267