About Theresa Davis

Theresa Davis is an educator, storyteller, poet, author, poetry slam champion and the host of the award winning open mic Java Speaks. Born into a family of writers and entertainers, she was drawn to the arts and has expressed her artistic abilities in several mediums. She designed and created Ebony Angels (a line of hand-crafted dolls) , Mental Notes (hand-crafted books) and started a clothing line for children. In 2002, Theresa joined forces with her mother and brother to form the spoken word performance group MoDaSo (Mother/ Daughter/ Son) and released two music CD's This is for Family and The Uncivil War. She has self published several (7) collections of poetry including Rock Star Poet,Head Games and Simon Says.  In March of 2011, Theresa set out to compete in the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Columbus Ohio. After three days of competition, she won, becoming the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion.

In recognition of her years of activism on behalf of Atlanta’s youth, she was honored by the City of Atlanta with a proclamation, declaring May 22, “Theresa Davis Day in Atlanta”.  In July 2012, in partnership with the City of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Theresa released her chapbook “Simon Says”--poems about teaching with anti-bullying themes.  The same year, Theresa was named the 2012  McEver Chair in Poetry at Georgia Tech University.  According to the GA Tech website: “In addition to teaching Tech students, each visiting chair will reach into the community with a program of poetry events and workshops designed to recognize poetry for its possibilities in all our lives and to recognize those involved in the craft of writing poetry--whether accomplished, rising, or beginning--for the artists they are.”

A classroom teacher for over 20 years, she currently teaches poetry to youth and adults in the Atlanta Area. Her children Imani, Tia and Zion  are her constant sources of energy and inspiration.