About Me
Dred Sista Ren/LaTressa R. Hodges-Lumpkin considers herself a "WEstorian because their history is fiction, give it back." And a Poetical Commentator "things that are overstood never need to be explained." She is a sought after published poet, political organizer and lecturer. Sista Ren is a founding member of the Vanguard Black Underground with nearly twenty years in the game. She hails from Fitzgerald's, Spices, Dejoie's, the Bop Shop, the Literary Guild Complex, Rituals, A Touch of the Past and most importantly Literary Explosions (Lit-X) Anotha Level. She has performed and/or hosted at universities, venues and festivals around the country and Canada.
A Prysmatic Dreams Poet, Ren has shared the stage with famed poets, writers and performers Elder Sister Sonia Sanchez and Elder Brothers Amiri Baraka, Sam Greenlee, Useni Perkins, Quincy Troupe, Sterling Plumpp and Phil "Kelan" Cohran. Her contemporaries Brothers Avery (Big Daddy) R. Young, Cashus D, Chuck D, Chuck Perkins, Tyehimba Jess, Denizen Kane, Still Black See, Triple Blak, Reality, Eduardo Arocha, Ben Ortiz, Alphonso Hunter, Malik (the WordSmyth) Yusef, Khari B., Quaraysh Ali Lansana, J. Ivy, Gregorio Gomez, C. Otis Grant, Oliver Grimball, Common, Stan Skibby, David Boykin, Charlie St.Cyr-Paul, Mark Stampley and Marc Smith (Slam Papi the Founder of Slam Poetry). Sisters Tina Howell, Tara Betts, Maria McCray, Smokie and Brenda Mathews.
She has shared podiums and panels with Mr. Dick Gregory, Mr. Cliff Kelly, Mr. Lerone Bennett, Jr., Judge R. Eugene Pincham, Brothers Steve Cokely, Bill Hampton (Brother and President of the Fred Hampton Freedom Scholarship Fund), Gator Bradley, Craig Hodges, the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev Al Sampson, the Honorable Prince Asiel Ben Israel, Dr. Na'im Akbar, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, Dr. Conrad Worrill, Attorney Lewis Myers, Attorney Standish Willis and President Barack Obama; Mrs. Merlie Evers, Ms. Bev Smith, Sisters Akua Njeri, Pam Afrika, Alexis Herman (the first Black woman Secretary for the Department of Labor) Farai Chideya, Dr. Frances Cress-Welsing and Dr. Naimah Latif.
Sista Ren has served as the Vice-President of the Proviso West Suburban N.A.A.C.P., Illinois State President Black Think Tank, Chicagoland Urban Coordinator Rock/Rap the Vote HipHop Coalition, National Youth Director Black Political Convention 1996. She has received the Fred Hampton Freedom Scholarship Award. She was gifted by Dr. Bobbi Anthony Perez with Chicago State University's National Association of Black Professors Award in May, 1992. She was honored to participate in the Honorable Minister's Second HipHop East-West Unity Summit. She has appeared in national publications and on national media outlets such as BET,
CNN, PBS and MTV.
She was blessed to be featured on two tracks of RIAA certified platinum producer 'Mr. F.R.E.A.K.'s Weekend Love Affair' with Brother Regie "love jones" Gibson.
She along with her producer/bass player extraordinare Brother Jauqo III-X have recorded two tracks with master craftsmen and Grammy Award winning Brothers Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Calvin Weston. The two songs 'the fire this time/roll call' and 'one childless mother... continuous urban operas'. Will be released on their forth coming album 'mississippi roots... on my head inside out'.
which will finally contain the original unedited track that Brother Jauqo III-X produced for guidance records 'in midst of the rain/the messenger' which was to be featured on their "urban ren-ewal" album. dig the title spelling. being a motherfucking giant is hard hoisting creativity & integrity, we just make it look easy.
She is the Associate Director for Ashunti R.M.S.,Inc. a locally renown 501(c)(3) non-profit multi-social service agency that provides housing and supportive services to ex-offenders, the chemically dependent, HIV/AIDS impacted, victims of domestic, physical and sexual violence and homeless.
Sista Ren is Congressman Danny K. Davis', 7th Congressional District Political Action Chairperson.
Sista Ren is digging like an archaeologist being a nana to her GrandManSun & GrandButterfly.
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Mr. Wone
