Raina

I'm a poet with crazy stuff going on all the time. The last few years have been filled with so many exciting opportunities: heading the High School Literacy Project, teaching in an after school program for African American kids, teaching undergrad and grad students, traveling all over the place to teach and present at conferences.I'm on the road a lot just doing roadtrips on occasion. Coming up is a trip to Phoenix to celebrate my birthday; Philadelphia to celebrate my mom's service to the community for 30 years; Vermont for an artist residency; back to Vegas to live it up with my best friend for her bachelorette party; and Philly for the wedding before returning to Vegas. That's before the regular trips to LA, San Diego and New York, and a possible upcoming trip to Costa Rica again (I love that country). I am most likely returning to the North in 2009 or 2010. As yet, I'm unsure of where exactly, but New York, DC and Philly are all looking good. Just have to find a position in education or an MFA program (yes, I will be in school forever) :) We'll see, but the West is treating me pretty well ... of course, you never know, I might make it into the Peace Corps! :)My first poetry collection, Canticle of Idols, was a finalist for the Cave Canem Prize 2005 and so I'm sending that one out still and working on the next one, currently called Killing Mercy.What it comes down to: I work, play, love, travel hard. It's the only way to live.