Awards & Honors

  • Professional Development Grant, California College of the Arts for CSA conference in Grenada, Spring 2013
  • Professional Development Grant, California College of the Arts for ACWWS Conference in Suriname, Spring 2012
  • El Gouna Writer Residency, El Gouna, Egypt, June 1-July 1, 2010.
  • Counter Pulse, Performing Diaspora Grant/Residency, June-November 2009.
  • California Legislature Assembly Members Resolution for I Name Me Name, March 2009
  • Caribbean-American Heritage Legacy Award, June 2008
  • Professional Development Grant, California College of the Arts for Egyptian Women Artist website, Summer 2007.
  • Excerpt from essay, “Lying in the Tall Grasses Eating Cane,” used in the English Language Arts section of the Georgia High School Graduation test (GHSGT), 2006-present.
  • The Binational Fulbright Commission Residency in Egypt, December 2006-February, 2007.
  • Writer in Resident, Sacatar Institute, Itaparica, Brazil, December 2005-February 2006.
  • Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for best story, “Conscience is the Same as Do Right,” in The Caribbean Writer, University of the Virgin Islands, St Croix, 2004.
  • It Begins With Tears, novel, included in Rick Ayers’ Great Books for High School Kids: A Teacher’s Guide to Books that Can Change Teens Lives, 2004
  • Creative Artist Fellowship in Story telling, Cultural Funding Program, City of Oakland, 2002-2003.
  • Nominated to be Poet Laureate for the State of California, 2002
  • Teaching Development Grant, California College for the Arts to Prague, Summer 2002
  • 3-Year-Multicultural Program Grant, for Daughters of Yam, performance group with devorah major, California Arts Council, July 2001-04
  • Writer in Resident, Wadastick Artists & Scholars, Laurel Hill, NC., February-March 2001.
  • Writer in Resident, McColl (formerly, Tryon Center for the Arts), Charlotte, N.C., September-December 2000.
  • Cave Canem Fellow, Cranbrook, Michigan, June 24-30, 2001, June-July 2000
  • Library Laureate, San Francisco Public Library, April, 2000
  • Teaching Development Grant, CCAC to Cuba, January 1999
  • Distinguished Writer, Middle Atlantic Writers Association, October 1998.
  • Creative Work Fund Grant for “West Oakland Senior Citizen Oral History Project,” San Francisco, Ca., March 1998- October 1999.
  • Nominated International Woman of the Year, 1996-97, International Biography Center, England.
  • Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for best story, “The Brethren,” in The Caribbean Writer, University of the Virgin Islands, St Croix, April 1996.
  • Writer-in-Residence, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausaulito, CA., February – December 1996.
  • Instructional Mini Grant, University of California, Berkeley, Spring1996.
  • Caribbean Writer Summer Institute Recipient, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fl. Summer 1995.
  • Professional Development Grant, California College of Arts & Crafts, Spring 1995.
  • Daily News Prize for best poems in The Caribbean Writer, University of the Virgin Islands, St Croix, March 1995.
  • Teaching Development Grant, California College of Arts & Crafts, Spring 1994.
  • Honoree of Literary Women, Pleasant, CA, April 1994.
  • PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award for poetry collection, Tamarind and Mango Women, 1992.
  • Master Folk Artist for Storytelling, California Arts Council, 1991-92.
  • Distinguished Bay Area Woman Writer Award/California Legislative Assembly Certificate of Recognition presented by the National Women’s Political Caucus, 1991.
  • Affirmative Action Dissertation-Year Fellowship, 1990-91.
  • Phi Beta Kappa, 1991.
  • Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, University of California at Berkeley, 1988-90.       
  • Graduate Minority Program Grant, University of California at Berkeley, 1987-88.
  • Feminist Institute and Gender Study Research Grant, University of California at Berkeley, Fall 1987.
  • Pushcart Prize for short story, “Duppy Get Her,” 1987.
  • Forgivable Incentive Doctoral Loan Grant, the California State University System, 1987.
  • Bronze Medal, Jamaica Festival Literature Competition, 1984.
  • Merit Certificate, Jamaica Festival Literature Competition, 1982.
  • Dean’s List, Hunter College, New York, Spring 1974 – Spring 1975.

LITERARY BOARDS

  • Reviewer, Science Journal/The Journal of Creative Work, 2007-2010.
  • Reviewer of African American Journal, 2008-2010.
  • Poetry Reviewer, Meridian Journal,, 2005-2010.
  • Advisory Editorial Board, The Caribbean Writer, 1999-present
  • Creative Editor, MaComère, 1998-2005
  • Advisory Board, Manifest Press, Inc., 1999-2001