M.S.W., Bryn Mawr College

Winner of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship and several literary awards
Developed Sisters in Music and Poetry, Artistic Self-Enrichment Workshops with jazz guitarist and musician Monnette Sudler. Work with children and adults in schools, shelters, prisons and community venues
Self Published Mocha Melodies, Poems by Trapeta B. Mayson, currently in its second printing
Wrote Makin’ A Scene, a poetry play of sisters’ voices with Monnette Sudler; Play opened to a Standing-Room-Only audience.
Performed for Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni
Published in several anthologies including Drumvoices 2000, poems edited by Eugene Redmond with foreward by Maya Angelou
Received third place in the Toni Cade Bambara Prize for fiction
Completed second volume of poetry, two children’s stories; currently writing first book of fiction
Completed a poetry mural with an excerpt from a poem written by myself and community children in collaboration with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Through the Lullaby Project, encouraged and assisted women in People’s Emergency Shelter to write poems, rhymes and lullabies for their children
Performed in several hundred venues locally and nationally
Written several proposals and lesson plans for innovative programs for children and adults
Provide numerous volunteer hours in local programs for children and teens
Presented self-publishing workshops, written grants and planned and implemented conferences and artistic related trips for diverse populations

Simply put, I write about experiences – mine and others, particularly those with little or no voice. I feel that poetry is essential. I believe that the word must be honored. Writers must read. Writers must be disciplined about their craft. I also believe that the written word should serve a purpose. It should inspire, provoke, educate or enhance. It must do more than just get dressed up and look pretty. I am a community centered artist. I have a responsibility to continue the tradition of the likes of Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni and Lucille Clifton, to name a few. The most gratifying thing that can happen to me as a writer is to have someone who is far removed from the typical artistic community tell me that they enjoy my work or that they learned to like and apppreciate the written word because of me. These are the moments I enjoy, when an ordinary person like myself learns to embrace a beautiful and precious art form. I stay in the schools, shelters and streets because this is where poetry is...with and for the people!