Pushcart Prize Nominee, 2009 Poets and Writers Magazine Debut poet, writer and creative writing workshop facilitator, Karen S. Williams, a native of Inkster, Michigan, writes poetry and creative prose, much of it anchored in topics exploring the Christian spiritual quest;autobiography; science and nature; American medicine; history; American arts & culture; the woman's life journey; and personal transformation & growth.
Featured on American public radio's "Weekend America" program, and also an avid journal keeper, Karen is a Cave Canem African-American Poetry Fellow and author of, Elegy For A Scarred Shoulder, (Willow Books, 2008), Marine Life: A World in Poems, Willow Books, 2010), and the forthcoming children's book, The Blessing Chair (Aquarius Press, 2012).
Elegy..., in particular, focuses on African-America's health and medical experience spanning from the slavery era until contemporary times. The book was a finalist for the 2004 Naomi Long Madgett/Lotus Press Poetry Award. Elegy... has also been nominated for the State of Michigan 20 Most Notable Books for the Year 2009 Award
Karen's poetry, fiction and essays have been published in numerous journals, magazines, newspapers, and anthologies including Tavis Smiley's Keeping the Faith (Doubleday), Bum Rush the Page (Three Rivers Press), Spirit and Flame (Syracuse University Press), Abandon Automobile (Wayne State University Press), The Nubian Gallery (Blackfax Publications), Gathering Ground (University of Michigan Press), Beyond the Frontier (Black Classics Press), Black Hair: Art, Style and Culture (Universe Books),It's Worth the Struggle: Inspiration for Contemporary Writers, Paradise Valley Days, Inner Visions, Day's Dawn, Poetry Motel, Midwest Poetry Review, Poetic Resonance Imaging, Sunday Suitor, Point Judith Light, Canto, Contraband, Bouilliabase, Poetry Motel, Luna Negra, Cave Canem Anthologies 1999, 2000, and 2001, Food for the Spirit, The Iconoclast, Silver Wings, Broadside Press Broadside Series, United Nations Poetry Anthology, and Open City, among others.
A Cave Canem Workshop for African-American Poets fellow, a Broadside Press Poet, a Hurston-Wright Poet, and a Squaw Valley Poet, she is the former Senior Poetry Editor, and Chair of the Board of the award-winning Detroit Writer's Guild.
Karen received her undergraduate degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at The Ohio University, and two graduate degrees, respectively, from Wayne State University College of Education, and Michigan State University's Program for Bioethics, Humanities, and Society. At Michigan State, her specialization area in the program was the history of medicine, and literature and medicine for racial and ethnic populations.
A former NAACP branch president, Karen has also worked 18 years in health and human services in Metro Detroit. Her specialty areas include minority health, cultural competency, and maternal-child Health programs development for local public health; communications, arts-in-mental health, and bioethics advising for community mental health; administrative case management for urban juvenile justice programs; and consulting, arts instruction, and evaluation for hospital-based arts-in-medicine programs. She also served as a five-year program planning and health policy development consultant for the Annual State of Michigan Senator Raymond M. Murphy African-American Health Conference, and the State of Michigan African-American Health Institute.
A native of Inkster, Michigan, Karen is available for readings, workshops/classes, conferences, lectures/speaking engagements/talks, and interviews.
Contact her:
Fax: (313) 274-5146
Karen S. Williams has Read or Spoke
at the Following Venues (Partial List):
WDET-FM Radio - The Ralph Valdez Show
WCHB-AM Radio - The Mikal Featchurs Show
WOUB-AM Radio - New Black Directions
Mount Saint Alphonsus Retreat House, Esopus, New York
Downriver Arts Council, Taylor, MI
Inkster High School, Inkster, MI
Cranbrook Educational Community,
Bloomfield Hills,MI
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI
University of Michigan-Dearborn, MI
University of Detroit-Mercy, Detroit, MI
The Ohio University, Athens, OH
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Wayne County Community College District,
Taylor, MI Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Broadside Press Poets Theater, Detroit, MI
Grande Cafe, Farmington, MI
Midwest Poets and Writers Conference, Detroit, MI
The Book Cellar Bookstore, Plymouth, MI
The Scarab Club, Detroit, MI
Hipology Poetry Series, Detroit, MI
Coffee and Cream, Detroit, MI
Cass Cafe, Detroit, MI
Caroline Kennedy Library, Dearborn Heights, MI
Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, Mi
Barnes and Noble Books, Allen Park
Barnes and Noble Books, Detroit, MI
Borders Books, Utica, MI
Hillberry Theater, Detroit, M
Southfield Civic Center, Southfield, MI
City of Inkster Public Library, Inkster, MI
Wayne County General Hospital, Westland, MI
Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center, MI
Detroit Opera House, MI
Detroit Unity Temple, Detroit, MI
Cass United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI
Conant Memorial United Methodist Church, MI
Womack Temple CME Church, Inkster, MI
Amity Baptist Church, MI
St. James United Methodist Church, Westland, MI
Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Westland, MI
Detroit Public Library, Detroit, MI
Greystone International Jazz Museum, Detroit, MI
Charles Wright Museum of African-American History, Detroit, MI
