History of Jennifer Lisa Vest

Jennifer Lisa Vest has had her poetry published in five journals: The Fire This Time, Ache (pronounced ah-shay), African American Review, Canadian Journal of Indigenous Studies and Tongues and in four anthologies including Testimonies, Fast Talk, High Volume, Out of Many, One, and Face America. She has performed in poetry readings and mixed media events throughout the Bay Area, Washington DC, New York, Connecticut, Boston, and Atlanta since the early 90s and was a member of the 1997 San Francisco Slam Team which competed in the Nationals. Her first book of poetry, Names, was published by Indigenous Speak in Berkeley, CA in 1997. In 1998, she toured the east coast promoting Names. Between 1999 and 2004, Jennifer participated in readings at a number of anti-war, pro-women, and pro-gay events in Oakland, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. In 2006, she produced her first two cds, Camping at a Distance and Ancestor Count. She later published her third CD, Wonder Woman and recently published a compilation CD, Mixed Messages, in 2009.

Main Influences on Jennifer Lisa Vest

June Jordan, Chrystos, Calude McKay, Langston Hugues, Joy Harjo, Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin