Frederick Douglass Knowles II
Hartford Poet Laureate

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Frederick-Douglass Knowles II is an Educator and Activist fervent in achieving community augmentation through literary arts. He is the inaugural Poet Laureate for the City of Hartford. His works have been selected as a finalist for the New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) Poet of the Year Award, as well as a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. He is a recipient of the Nutmeg Poetry Award, and the 2020 Connecticut of The Arts Fellow in Artist Excellence for Poetry/ Creative Non-Fiction. Frederick-Douglass is the author of BlackRoseCity, and a Professor of English at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT.

     

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#BeatLit

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Imagine a young poetic voice that is powerful, yet fearful. It fears that no one wants to hear about its innermost vulnerabilities due to a cultural absence of empathy. Or a powerful young voice that is fully aware of its magnitude, but unaware of how to articulate its experience utilizing literary techniques designed to amplify its story. Now imagine those same voices expressing themselves to the heartfelt rhythm of #BeatLit.

 

Mission:

 

#BeatLit illustrates an interactive, creative writing campaign designed to amalgamate the literary and performing art of poetry.  #BeatLit combines the element of active reading with generative creative writing exercises to compose literary and/or performance poetry in order to improve the competency and confidence of aspiring writers. 

 

Vision:

 

#BeatLit establishes working relationships with local schools, libraries, community organizations and institutions, as well as, artistic venues throughout Greater Hartford to encourage young writers to achieve their literary dreams.

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2022 Tour

 

1.   CREC University of Hartford Magnet School, Hartford, CT, 1/14, 9am.

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2.   CREC University of Hatford Magnet School, Hartford, CT 1/20, 9 am.

 

3.   Connecticut Black Poets Laureate, Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield, CT, 2/17, 6pm

 

4.   1st Annual Black History Fundraiser,  Enfield Public Liberary, Enfield, CT, 2/12  6pm

 

5.   12th Annual Celebrating Our Heritage, Holiday Inn, Bridgeport, CT 2/26 6pm    

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6.   Poets on Poets (POP) Series, Connecticut Poetry Society, Virtual, 4/21 7pm

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