Biography:

The spoken word comes to life when imbued with the spirit & soul of Maria C. James. Maria is a dynamic spoken word artist who possesses a gift for touching hearts with the pen.

Her first book, "Windows to the Soul", touched on issues of cultural pride, sisterhood, spirituality, & love. She wrote & designed that collection of poetry while a student at Shippensburg University, where she earned her BA in Communications/Journalism. While working on a Masters Degree in Communications Studies she completed her second book, "Rising Waters".

Maria has been performing her poetry since the mid 1990’s & has ‘blessed the mic’ at venues in New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Delaware & Washington D.C. Her poetic honors include winning two poetry slams in Harrisburg, PA in 2002 & a poetry contest at www.christian-poetry.com.

In 2004 Maria co-starred in Court Street Poetry Jam at Open Stage of Harrisburg. The show featured the original poetry of 8 phenomenal spoken word artists. Maria wrote the theme poem for this production, “America : Seasoned and Raw”, and it was published in the Harrisburg Review in 2004. So far 2006 has seen the release of Maria's first spoken word CD, FREEverse and publication in Megaera.

Maria also recently had the honor of introducing Nikki Giovanni at the American Literacy Council's annual dinner.  Click here for pictures of Maria & Nikki!

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Education:

MS Communications Studies, Shippensburg University (2003)
BA Communications/Journalism - Public Relations Concentration, Shippensburg University (1996)

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Spoken Word Experience:

Harrisburg Area Community College (Feb 2006)

Central Penn Black History Celebration (Feb 2006)

ALC Annual Dinner (tribute to Nikki Giovanni) (Dec 2005)

Church World Gifts, Harrisburg, PA (Aug 2005)

Grace and Mercy Church, Middletown, PA (Jul 2005)

Bibleway Church, Carlisle, PA (May 2005)

Kline Branch Library, Harrisburg, PA (Apr 2005)

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (Apr 2005)

Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA (Apr 2005)

Sarah Lawrence College Women’s Conference, Yonkers, NY (Mar 2005)

Auditor General’s Televised Black History Program, (Feb 2005)

Freeman’s African Cultural Center, Chester, PA (Aug 2004)

Poetry Thursdays, Featured Reader, Harrisburg, PA (Jul 2004)

James/Atkinson Family Reunion, Thomasville, GA (Jun 2004)

Amani Festival, Carlisle PA (May 2004)

Women’s Speak, Robin's Bookstore, Philadelphia, PA (May 2004)

Robin's Bookstore, Philadelphia, PA (Apr 2004)

Black Student Union, Penn State Harrisburg (Apr 2004)

WEB Dubois House, University of Penn, Philadelphia, PA (Apr 2004)

Infinity School for Gifted Children (Feb 2004)

Café Creative Flava (Feb 2004)

ABWA Black History Celebration (Feb 2004)

Van Go’s Ear, Border’s Books, Harrisburg, PA (Feb 2004)

Court Street Poetry Jam (Jan 2004)

Wilbur’s Café, Messiah College (Nov 2003)

Poetry Workshop, Newville Elementary School (Nov 2003)

Sparky & Clark’s, York, PA (Nov 2003)

Susquehanna Township Middle School (Oct 2003)

WGHB TV49: Worlds Apart aired in PA, WV & VA (Aug 2003)

Hosted Poetry Workshop & Hope Station, Carlisle, PA (Aug 2003)

American Music Festival, Harrisburg, PA (Jul 2003)

Family Affair at Boys & Girls Club, Harrisburg PA (Jul 2003)

Rancho Roundup, Zion Assembly Church of God (Jul 2003)

Gospel Cavalcade WTCY, 1400 AM, The Touch (Jun 2003)

Poetic Libation, Blue Mountain Vineyards, Harrisburg PA (Jun 2003)

Wright & Wright Ministries Evening of the Arts, Media, PA (Jun 2003)

Borders Books & Music, Harrisburg, PA (Jun 2003)

The Links Mothers Day Luncheon, Harrisburg, PA (May 2003)

Susquehanna Township Middle School Cultural Day (May 2003)

Shippensburg University Spiritual Center (Apr 2003)

Bethel AME Church Women’s Day, Harrisburg, PA (Apr 2003)

2nd Baptist Church of Harrisburg Youth Sunday (Apr 2003)

Sister Art Poetry Slam, Harrisburg, PA (Jan 2003)

MLK Day Celebration, Shippensburg University (Jan 2003)

Enchanted Evening, Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, PA (Dec 2002)

The Rhema Café, Hostess/Founder (Dec 2002 through Dec 2003)

Wild Child Café, Wilmington, DE (Oct 2002)

Evening of Poetry, African American Museum of Harrisburg (Jul 2002)

The Touch Sisters Expo, The Hilton, Harrisburg, PA (May 2002)

The Grateful Bean, Elizabethtown, PA (Apr 2002)

Bar None, Washington, DC (Mar 2002)

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Publications:

Megaera (2006)
The Knightline (June 2005)
Harrisburg Review (2004)
Rising Waters (2003)
Windows to the Soul (1999)
United Voices (1994)
Best Poems of 1995
Urban Connection Newspaper
The Public Opinion Newspaper
The Voice Newsletter (Editor in Chief 1994 - 2000)
Vista Newsletter
Newswire e-newsletter
Content Writer for www.campusdoor.com from 2000-2002
The Mercersburg Journal
Athena’s Leaves
Common Ground Newspaper

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Dramatic Experience:

The Road to the Promised Land - A monologue depicting Martin Luther King speaking with an angel about the state of the world as he stands somewhere between earth & heaven. Written by Maria and performed by her at many venues, including Pennsylvania State Museum, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Bethuel Seventh Day Adventist Church, Shippensburg University Martin Luther King Day Celebration, The African American Museum of Harrisburg's Evening of Poetry, and Central Pennyslvania College.

Court Street Poetry Jam, Open Stage, Harrisburg, PA (Jan-Feb 2004 & soon to be released on DVD)

Women of Strength, Open Stage, Harrisburg, PA (May 2003)

Case Dismissed, Fountain Gate Church & Ministries (Dec 2002)

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Awards Received:

Heavyword Poetry Slam, Harrisburg PA - Top 10 Finalist (Jul 2004)
HACC Poetry Slam, Harrisburg, PA - First Place (May 2002)
Pennsylvania Society for Technical Writing Award (May 2002)
Heavyword Poetry Slam, Harrisburg, PA - Fifth Place (Jun 2002)
Poet of the Month - www.Christian-Poetry.com (Jun 2002)

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In the Media :

The Knightline

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