- 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