Words That Heal: Detroit Slam Poet “Verses” Violence

Kalimah Johnson

What do you get when you combine a spoken word performer with a feminist, civil rights activist and a college professor? You get this year’s winner of the Visionary Voice Award, Kalimah Johnson. The award recognizes the creativity and commitment of individuals around the country who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Usually, that means anti-violence groups focus attention on news stories dominating the headlines, such as the sexual assault crisis affecting the Michigan State University gymnasts. This April, the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCEDSV) is raising a call to action for hope.

MCEDSV Executive Director, Sarah Prout Rennie announced “We are honored to present the 2017 Visionary Voice Award to Kalimah Johnson for her leadership in assisting survivors of sexual assault in Michigan.”

Kalimah Johnson is being recognized for her work with survivors of sexual assault and her activism centered around prevention. As the Executive Director of the SASHA Center in Detroit, Ms. Johnson has made a difference in the lives of countless women and men through the support programs at her nonprofit, by her outreach work within the NBA and NFL, and in teaching future advocates as a professor of social work at Marygrove College. Her spoken word and poetry slam performances mix hip hop culture with feminism to reach a broad audience in a unique tone and style.

The award will be presented to Ms. Johnson at a ceremony during MCEDSV’s annual conference, held in Bellaire, Michigan, May 24-25, 2017.

Additional information about Kalimah Johnson and the SASHA Center can be found at www.sashacenter.org.