On Violence: Ramya Ramana, Paul Tran, and Crystal Valentine

UPDATE: Staceyann Chin will no longer be able to join us for this program. This event will now take place at NYU Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South), Rosenthal Pavilion.

What connections exist between state-sanctioned violence against Black, brown, and queer bodies here and abroad? A/P/A Institute at NYU presents an evening of conversation and poetry featuring spoken-word phenoms Ramya Ramana (2014 NYC Youth Poet Laureate), Paul Tran, and Crystal Valentine (2015 NYC Youth Poet Laureate).

Registration has ended, but walk-ins are welcome!

Co-sponsored by the NYU Institute of African American Affairs, Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program in the NYU Department of Social & Cultural Analysis, and NYU Center for Multicultural Education and Programs.

Ramya Ramana, age 19, is a youth activist, writer, poet and the current Youth Poet Laureate of New York City. She won the New York Knicks Poetry Slam that awarded her a full scholarship to St. John’s University where she is currently studying Philosophy. Ramana has graced many notable stages including: Apollo Theatre, Lincoln Center, Tribeca Film Festival, City Hall, and many more. She has also shared stages with Harry Belafonte, Rosario Dawson, K. Michelle, Nina Davuluri, and ePresident Bill Clinton. The New York City Youth Poet Laureate program is sponsored by NYC Votes and the award-winning youth development organization Urban Word NYC, where she is a member of their Youth Leadership Board. Ramana gives back to her community through various service projects and plans to pursue a career as a community organizer and activist advocating for human rights and social justice.

Paul Tran is an Asian American historian, activist, and spoken word poet. He won “Best Poet” and “Pushing the Art Forward” at the national college poetry slam and has also received awards and fellowships from Kundiman, the VONA/Voices Writing Workshop, Asian American Literary Arts & Performance Festival, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He twice coached the Providence Youth Slam team, which competed at the international Brave New Voices poetry festival in Chicago (2013) and Philadelphia (2014), and most recently taught the Untitlement Project at New Urban Arts. He lives in Brooklyn.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Crystal Valentine, age 20, has been writing poetry since she was in the fourth grade. She is currently enrolled at NYU, studying creative writing and adolescent mental health studies. She is a member of the 2014 Urban Word slam team, a returning member of the NYU poetry slam team, as well as NYU’s current Grand Slam Champ. She has performed at renowned locations such as the Lincoln Center, New Amsterdam Theatre, Apollo Theater, and Nuyorican’s Poet’s Café. She has hosted several open mic nights around New York City and has taught poetry workshops for youths. Even more so than in her own poetic talent, Valentine believes in poetry’s ability to instill change in those who embrace it.