Wizdom

Wizdom is a Norfolk, Virginia native but has made homes in the boogie-down (the Bronx), New Jeru, namely p-town (Paterson, NJ), the sack (Hackensack, NJ), Michigan, and most recently, Emeryville, CA. She has been singing since the age of 7. Her early training took place at the Brotherly Love Church of God in Christ. At the age of 13 she began performing with The Virginia Opera Company. She went on to perform with several musical theater groups in the Virginia area while attending the Governors Magnet School for the Arts. In addition, she performed with the BTW Playmakers starring in "The Wiz", "Grease", "Fight the Power", and "The Amen Corner". Around the same time, Wizdom began writing poetry and songs and soon learned that she could achieve more creatively by combining her love for music with her love for truthtellin. Always paying homage to those who have gone before her, she feels she owes her wayz with wordz to her mama who made her trek to the local library everyday during many of the hot summer months of her childhood. She has won numerous writing awards including The Phyllis Wheatley Poetry Award. She has featured in NJ, Philly, Michigan, New York, and was the only female member appointed to the 2000 NJ Slam Team Finals. More recently, she served as the 2001 U of M Slam Team Coach for the first annual collegiate Union Slam. She has made it her point to eliminate the false dichotomy that exists between art and science having completed a PhD, MPH, and MS. Her unique performing style combines sight, sound, science, and vision.