Let my passion for writing work for you!
Testimonials
Bandit Queen Press Zine Workshop
It was such a joy to attend Lesley-Ann’s zine-makin workshop last year at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. In one week we learned about restorative justice through the lens of Trinbagonian activist Gillian Goddard and her chocolate project. We had informative and inspiring conversations about crops, trade routes, colonialism, belonging, ingredients, and so much more. Together we made a beautiful and poetic zine, which left me with hope and excitement for the future. She is a great teacher, warm and sincere, and so full of wisdom to share. Sabitha Söderholm, poet, artist, and writer.
Public Speaking & keynote address
I have had the honor of having Lesley-Ann as a keynote speaker, teacher, and panel member for the past 5 years.
Hundreds of my students, colleagues and guests from across the globe have benefited from her rich and unique hybrid knowledge and deep understanding of the contexts in the Caribean, USA, Africa, Europe, Scandinavia and, Denmark in particular.
Lesley-Ann speaks, teaches, writes about, and comments on pressing cross-cutting global issues of our time: the power of culture and the narratives, stories, the role of education, race relations and identity, gender, human rights, youth, etc. Literature, poetry, the spoken word, and her pen are the powerful tools she deploys in her educational work.
Thus, if you need someone to speak, write and teach about any of the above topics, Lesley Ann is the expert to consider. Likewise, if you need someone to help educate you about what the world needs most today and in the future: education for global citizenship, Lesley Ann is the one I recommend.
Garba Diallo, Director of Crossing Borders
Bandit Queen Press Zine Workshop
I had my first publishing experience in a dusty office in the West Village along with a group of other high school activists. Together we made a zine – and I’ll never forget how empowered I felt from this simple act of making a publication by any means necessary! Since that time, I have published countless articles and even two books – but I must admit it is this collaborative process that gets me most excited. Zine-making underscores the fact that to publish is to make it public, all you need is a vision and some paper.
My Bandit Queen Press Zine Workshop brings this experience to students all over the world. Making a zine is a great way to take a deep dive into any subject you and your students/colleagues are looking into. So far we’ve created zines around the themes of motherhood, healing and food sovereignty.
Bandit Queen Press has worked with students at Prescott College, The Royal Danish Art Academy and UniArts in Finland to name a few. Your BQP Zine workshop will be tailored to your needs!
Public speaking & keynote address
Throughout the years, I have had the honor of being invited to speak for a wide variety of events – from the Women’s March in Copenhagen in 2017, where I was national spokeswoman and emcee for one of the largest turnouts globally, to the Royal Swedish Arts Academy, Royal Danish Arts Academy and NYU among others. In 2018 I was invited to TEDx Odense, where I recited my poem, “Country: A Roadmap to Liberation.” I tailor my talk around themes that matter to you; past pieces have included the impact of colonialism; the healing power of nature; belonging; trauma; the importance of self-forgiveness; migrations, and the transformative power of shame, to name a few.
Content
In a writing and publishing career that spans over twenty years, I have created content for a diverse range of platforms – from NBCBLK to poems for artist Jeannette Ehlers as well as Julienne Doko’s historical dance performance “W.O.M.B.” I have interviewed creative luminaries such as Kara Walker, the late Coolio, Paul Beatty, and Jason Reynolds.
In 2018 I worked as a ghostwriter on Ben Crump’s award-winning 2019 book “Open Season.”
Aside from my groundbreaking 2005 blog “Blackgirl on Mars” and two published books, one of which was recently nominated for “The Purple Prize,” – I have a solid track record of creating content that works.
Editing & Translation
With a publishing background that spans over twenty years – I have edited fiction and nonfiction manuscripts to academic papers. I also translate from Danish to English. Please feel free to contact me for more information.