Cassandra Walton
cm_walto@hotmail.com

Cassandra is a native of new orleans , louisiana , and a resident of the bay area FOR 17 years. She attended southern university for four years studying psychology, and nursing at lsu medical center. Cassandra says she has the best of both worlds, given her foundation in the southern region and her wings to soar in the western region.

Cassandra is a respected “Spoken word artist” in the san francisco bay area. She was Termed “the bay area's best kept secret” by local Kpoo/kpfa Radio Personality Avotcja. She has been called, word weaver, word sculpturer, griot, word warrior, and called “female barry white of poetry” by greg brigdes of kpfa radio/jahva house but perfers to be called simply A “poet”. Cassandra refers to poetry as spoken music, says she attributes her mothers beautiful melodic gospel/opera voice to her love for poetry. She gained additional public notoriety with the release of the popular poetry/neo-soul/ jazz cd called "LOVE ACCORDING 2 LOVE" by the love poets @ www.cdbaby.com/lovepoets A group she help founded. Cassandra's has worked with some of the most outstanding performers throughout the bay area and nationally.

she is co-host of a weekly program (Nearly 4 years) for new and experienced poets alike in oakland california . The program is called the poetic grove and has itself become a local hot spot for up and coming poets from both the east and west bay communities. She co-host with Indigo & James Martin each and every friday night 7:30-10p @ eastmont towncenter located @ 7300 Macarthur Blvd. inside the house of unity family resource center .

Cassandra is one of the most requested performers in the bay area. She is told that not only is she an exceptional artist, but an astonishing promoter of any event that she involves herself with.

Cassandra just released her cd titled “born to climb” on june 23, 2005. Presently working to release her book titled “Cooking with poetry, a recipe for living, laughing, and loving. You may get the cd @ www.cdbaby.com/cd/cookingwithpoetry

She will released the cd aboard a cruise to the bahamas Aug. 22- 26, 2005 given by the ladies in red, founder Brenda knight national leader in Education (empowerment coach and trainer).

On November 20, 2005 Cassandra officially celebrated the release of “born to climb” @ Emeryville's Linen Life Park Avenue . She gave her long awaiting fans “an evening of simple elegance”, where she performed with some of the top musicians and vocalist. in addition she was accompanined by a nineteen piece orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Curtis Shaw and the ben oni orchestra.

In addition, Among the significant high lights of her professional career, Cassandra was recently honored as the specially invited poet of the Bay Area to preform for the Consul General of Japan of San Francisco and his GUEST FOR the official Celebration of 150 th anniversary of U.S./Japan Friendship.

Slated for July 2006 cassandra is working on a poetry convention held in denver where nearly a thousand are expected to be in attendance. cassandra is the entertainment director and chief of staff for the Color my Poetry, color it mine International poetic expressions convention, where the grand prize of $10,000.00 will be given away.

Cassandra SAYS it very ironic that she is actually a part of a poetry convention, since she has tried to steer clear of contest. however, after her negative experience at the reno poetry convention, she and others decided they needed to “write their wrong”, so they formed “color my poetry, color it mine”.

she has also made numerous appearances on local radio and television programs. The following are additional credits and points of interest for this new age artist who prefers to be known simply as, cassandra.

She says, “ I get chills all over my body, when I think of some of the orations/compliments i have been given for just doing what i love doing and what i am having fun doing”. Cassandra recalls when she performed for the judge trinia Stanley of alameda superior court diversion's program. she received a call on a sunday morning from judge stanley. JUDGE STANLEY STATED to Cassandra, that she has always held langston hughes poem “I too sing america ” in such high esteem, for it was given to her by a colleague to help her through a difficult period. However, today she will put it away with her safe keeps and the poem she will draw her strenght from is Cassandra's poem titled “I never knew, I never Knew”. When asked where does she go from here her reply is: “The sky is the limit. i was born to climb”. Cassandra says we all have gifts, but we refuse to unwrap the packages to see what it is that god has given us.

She credits her family as being HER BEST critics and best supporters.

ADDITIONAL POINTS:

1. one of the lead performers for the Hit Play “Oaktown blue' written by avotcja
2. nominated for the stammy awards 10/08/05 , presented by new toyz assoc.
3. the hit play “generations' written by Dr. albirda rose- eberhardt, produced by myrtha muse dance with reason
4. the annual ladies in red celebration, founder brenda knight,
5. performed for San Francisco 's Police "Officers for Justice" regional event,
6. member of the writers resource center , founder janie bess
7. Received the Northern California Writers award for the "The Circle of Writers Conference",
8. Performed at "Harambe's annual event for artists with disabilities.
9. “love according 2 love cd”, sold nationally and internationally
10. performances include, but not limited to: Kimball's east, the linen life gallery, dwayne wiggins jahva house, oakland poertry diversified, paradise ten kweens and a mic, bay area blues society awards ceremony, sweet lorraines in new orleans
11. directed the first “spoken word artist against violence” event held in sf
12. june 2005 kick-off event in new york for “color my poetry, color it mine”
13. For nearly ten years a member of Just friends social club, 2005 fundraiser chairperson
14. lisa nichols “chicken soup for the african american soul” @ kimballs east
15. UNSUNG DIVAS OAKLAND 'S JACK LONDON SQUARE SIMONE'S 3/6/05

_________________
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330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California 94102

The Northern California Martin Luther King, Jr.
Birthday Observance Committee, Inc. is a
non-profit organization founded by Rev.
Cecil Williams, of Glide Church in San Francisco,
California, and the King Family. Its primary
mission is to coordinate and plan events centered
around the national holiday in Dr. King's honor,
celebrated on the third Monday of each year. 
From the beginning, the San Francisco celebration
events have been among the largest in the
United States.