American poet
Dr. Genea Brice is an American poet. She was the first
Poet Laureate of
Vallejo, California .
[2]
Biography
Dr. Genea Sheles Brice was born in
Oakland, California
[1] and raised in Vallejo, California.
[3] She is a graduate of Hogan Senior High School in Vallejo.
[4] She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in English Literature and a Teaching Credential from
Patten University .
[5]
[3] She went on to the Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College to earn her Master of Arts and doctorate in Theological Studies.
[5]
[3] In addition to becoming Vallejo's first poet laureate, she served on the Commission on Culture and the Arts.
[4] Following her service as poet laureate she briefly relocated to
Dallas, Texas in 2018.
[4] She currently resides in
Vacaville, California
[6] and works as a teacher.
[7]
Poetry
A poetry aficionado since her youth,
[8] Dr. Brice advocated
[9]
[10] for the founding of the poet laureate program in Vallejo.
[11] She served as poet laureate of Vallejo, California from August 2015 to September 2017.
[12] During her tenure, she performed at several local events and celebrations, including Art Walk,
[13] Visions of the Wild,
[13] Women's History Month,
[14] Juneteenth,
[15]
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ,
[16] and a vigil after the
Charlottesville car attack .
[17] She taught students about
Martin Luther King Jr. ,
[18] gave presentations on
Maya Angelou and
Sonia Sanchez for Voices of Change
[19] and spoke about
Ernest J. Gaines at the Solano County Library.
[20] Dr. Brice lead a monthly poetry circle, Poetry in Notion,
[21] and hosted annual shows for National Poetry Month.
[21]
[22] She also spoke at events for numerous organizations including
Alpha Kappa Alpha , NAACP, Community Democratic Club,
Delta Sigma Theta ,
The Links ,
Rotary Club , Harvest House,
United States Forest Service ,
Soroptimist International , and Vallejo Sister Cities.
[12] She was succeeded as poet laureate by
D.L. Lang in 2017.
[2]
In 2020 Dr. Brice performed at a rally against police violence in Vallejo.
[23] In 2021 she performed at a virtual benefit for the Solano County Library Foundation.
[24]
[25]
[26] She also read at the
Juneteenth flag raising at Martin Luther King, Jr. park in Vallejo,
[27]
[6]
[28] and at another commemoration of Juneteenth in Suisun City.
[29]
[30] She also performed with her successors at Alibi Bookshop.
[31]
[32] In 2022 she read in Fairfield at a Juneteenth event for the Solano County Library.
[33]
[34] In 2023 she helped high school seniors with a Black History Month poetry project,
[35] and performed at the Cordelia Library for National Poetry Month,
[36] and at Alibi Bookshop for the Vallejo Poetry Festival.
[37] In 2024 she performed at a
Black History Month event in Vallejo,
[38] an event promoting literacy in Fairfield,
[39] and at the Fairfield Library with fellow poets laureate.
[40]
Works
Poetry collections
A Way with Words: Poems, Prose, and other Masterpieces 2017.
[41]
Anthologies
The Colors of Life
The International Library of Poetry . 2003.
[5]
The Best Poems and Poets of 2005 The International Library of Poetry. 2005.
[5]
A Word for All Seasons Benicia Literary Arts, 2014.
[5]
Poeming Pigeons: Poems about Birds The Poetry Box. 2015.
[42]
[5]
Lang, D.L. ed., Verses, Voices, & Visions of Vallejo 2019.
[3]
Publications
Brice, Genea, “A Tuesday Text,” Benicia Herald, October 7, 2020.
[43]
Brice, Genea, “Galveston,” Benicia Herald , June 18, 2021.
[44]
Brice, Genea, “Vacaville,” The Diablo Gazette, April 2022.
[45]
Memoir
Weaned in the Desert: Souvenirs from Sacred Seasons with my Savior Xulon Press. 2010.
[46]
Spoken word album
A Way with Words: The Poet Speaks (2024)
See also
References
^
a
b Widjojo, Irma (2015-07-28).
"Vallejo woman named cities first poet laureate" .
The Washington Times .
Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-08-20 .
^
a
b
"VAL-L-PoetBrice-0831" . timesheraldonline.com . 12 August 2018.
Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019 .
^
a
b
c
d
"Verses, Voices and Visions of Vallejo" . vallejopoetrysociety.org . Vallejo Poetry Society.
Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^
a
b
c Freedman, Richard (June 28, 2018).
"Vallejo's first Poet Laureate moving to Texas" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
"Genea S. Brice" . emergeamerica.org . Emerge California.
Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^
a
b Freedman, Richard (2 June 2021).
"No Juneteenth event, but flag flies to honor slavery's end" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021 .
^ Coleman, Monica (12 September 2023).
"Effective Black Parenting Program is back at Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District" . ABC10. Retrieved 20 October 2023 .
^ Widjojo, Irma.
"Vallejo woman named city's first poet laureate" . Washington Times .
Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021 .
^
"Vallejo appoints two poets laureate in historic first" . Vallejo Times Herald. 25 November 2023.
Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023 .
^ Brice, Genea (28 February 2013).
"Poet Laureates in Vallejo" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021 .
^ Egitto, Daniel (6 October 2023).
"Vallejo seeks next poet laureate" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023 .
^
a
b
"Proclamation Honoring Genea Brice as the First Poet Laureate for the City of Vallejo" . City of Vallejo . Retrieved 3 June 2021 . [
permanent dead link ]
^
a
b De Guzman, Dianne (10 October 2015).
"Vallejo Poet Laureate Genea Brice honored during Art Walk reception" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Rogness, Jessica (23 March 2018).
"Solano County honors Barton at Women's History Luncheon" . The Vacaville Reporter.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Freedman, Richard (9 June 2016).
"June 9 Vallejo A&E Source: Amos Carter back at Vallejo Juneteenth — as the singing pastor" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Hansen, Todd (16 January 2018).
"MLK Day March in Vallejo celebrates King, his call to action" . Fairfield Daily Republic.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Glidden, John (14 August 2017).
"Vallejoans stand up to bigotry, hate" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Brinkerhoff, Noel (7 February 2016).
"Poet laureate teaches legacy of Martin Luther King" . Napa Valley Register.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Sestanovich, Nick (21 March 2018).
"3 poets laureate to celebrate 6 female poets in free library event" . Benicia Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Flavell, Kay (29 March 2017).
"Celebrating the power of mentors" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^
a
b Sestanovich, Nick (8 April 2016).
"JFK Library in Vallejo will celebrate National Poetry Month" . Benicia Herald.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^
"Listen to local poets at Saturday library event" . Fairfield Daily Republic. 14 April 2017.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ Miller, Caroline (28 June 2020).
"Wrong Side of History" . Vallejo Times-Herald.
Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020 .
^
"The Week Ahead: Talk with Solano poets goes virtual" . Fairfield Daily Republic. 19 April 2021.
Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021 .
^ Maginnis-Honey, Amy (18 April 2021).
"Solano poets to share words of hope, encouragement at virtual How Poetry Heals event" . Fairfield Daily Republic.
Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021 .
^ Freedman, Richard (8 April 2021).
"Always Something to Celebrate" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021 .
^ Raskin-Zrihen, Rachel (2 June 2021).
"Juneteenth flag flies for first time over Vallejo" . Fairfield Daily Republic.
Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021 .
^ Freedman, Richard (17 June 2021).
"Juneteenth National Independence Day becomes federal holiday" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021 .
^ Sestanovich, Nick (21 June 2021).
"Suisun City recognizes Juneteenth with brief ceremony" . The Vacaville Reporter.
Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021 .
^
"Suisun City hosts Juneteenth commemoration Monday" . Fairfield Daily Republic . 20 June 2021.
Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021 .
^ Freedman, Richard (24 August 2021).
"Rare time three poets laureate gather" . Vallejo Times-Herald.
Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021 .
^ Freedman, Richard (7 September 2021).
"September 9 Arts and Entertainment Source Always Something to Celebrate" . Vacaville Reporter.
Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021 .
^
"Solano Library Foundation to host Willie Brown Jr. for Juneteenth event" . Fairfield Daily Republic. May 11, 2022.
Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022 .
^
"Willie Brown Jr. speaking at the Hilton Garden Inn in June" . Vallejo Times Herald. 13 May 2022.
Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022 .
^ Bruce, Suzanne (5 February 2023).
"Poetry Connection: Rodriguez High poets ponder Black experience" . Fairfield Daily Republic.
Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023 .
^
"At the Library: A Pageantry of Poetry celebrates National Poetry Month" . Fairfield Daily Republic. 3 April 2023.
Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023 .
^ Baker, Jordan (14 April 2023).
"Indulge in poetry with an alibi" . Vallejo Times Herald.
Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023 .
^
"Black History Month at Solano libraries" . The Daily Republic. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024 .
^ Hiland, Susan (10 March 2024).
"Adult learners, tutors for Solano Literacy Program celebrated" . Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved 10 March 2024 .
^
"Solano county poet laureates guests gather for a poetry affair" . Daily Republic. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024 .
^
"August 31 Vallejo A&E Source: Vallejo's former poet laureate stays at it – Times-Herald" . timesheraldonline.com . 29 August 2017.
Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019 .
^
"Poeming Pigeons: Poems about Birds" . thepoetrybox.com . The Poetry Box.
Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^
"Yearning to Breathe Free Vol 47" . marysusangast.com . 14 October 2020.
Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021 .
^
"Not There Yet Vol 4" . marysusangast.com . 22 June 2021.
Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021 .
^ Brice, Genea (April 2022).
" "Vacaville" " (PDF) . No. April 2022, page 10. The Diablo Gazette.
Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2022 .
^
"Bit a dry eye when Brice finished "Weaned in the Desert" – Times-Herald" . timesheraldonline.com . 5 October 2010.
Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019 .
Poets Laureate of Vallejo, California