Folklore & Literacy is the website of Leslie Reese, who is a writer, poet, and teaching artist. Leslie likes to use “third things” – poems, books, movies, visual art, music – as gateways to explore, excavate, and celebrate our relationship with self, family, community, and the natural world. Born and raised in Detroit, Leslie holds a BA in English from Alabama A & M University and a MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago. She is the author of the poetry collections, Upside Down Tapestry Mosaic History (1987), and Urban Junkstar (2005).
“I am an interdisciplinary artist and educator with experience working in schools, libraries, and museums, with an interest in developing dynamic community relationships through storytelling.
Specialties: I appreciate being able to work with a broad cross section of people in terms of walks of life, ethnicity, culture, and generations. I especially like work that gets people communicating with each other and learning from each other. By curating interdisciplinary literacy, poetry and writing experiences, I help to dispel confusion, fear, and anxiety; facilitating clarity and understanding.”