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About

Tameca L Coleman (Meca'Ayo) is a published multi-genre writer, singer, artist, events organizer, and massage therapist. They are experienced in editing, content creation and curation in web, print, and social media communications. With a DIY mindset, and with a foundation in nonprofit work and volunteerism, they aim to find and amplify the work of fellow creatives who not only create inspiring art, but who work towards positive change on many fronts. 

Education

20152018

MFA, Creative Writing

Regis University
  • MFA in creative writing; emphasis in Poetry and Fiction.

Teaching

Empowering writers forms the foundation of my work as a writing instructor and workshop leader. I have a multi-genre background, and can point to resources for research methods in myriad formats, as well as forums in which one might hone their skills and become part of thriving literary community. I have also assisted writers with book-length projects, and helped writers cultivate essays and other works for publication. I have taught at college level, and also been part of writing panels and workshops outside of academia.

Selected Professional Experience:

  • University Level Part-Time Adjunct English Composition Instructor: Red Rocks Community College, Colorado School of Mines, (August 2018 - October 2020)
  • Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado/ Manton Massage Clinic: Teacher's Assistant for Anatomy and Bodywork classes, May 2016 - January 2017; Student Supervisor in MTIC student massage clinic, August 2014 - May 2016. 
  • Independent Writing Coaching, 2005 -- present / Working with writers of varying calibers for everything from poetry to book-length works. 
  • Community College of Denver, Writing Tutor, 2009 / teaching writing skills to all level of writers in a busy writing center; includes work with ESL writers.
  • Metro Poets (MSU Denver), Spring 2006 - Summer 2007 / Facilitated ongoing poetry workshops for Metro Poets Student Poetry Club.

Training:

  • Creative Strategies for Change Facilitator Training (Mar - Oct 2021)
  • Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute IdeaLab & Business Launch Bootcamp (May - Sept 2021)
  • Accessibility 101 Training (Red Rocks Community College), Feb. 2020.
  • Writing Tutor (Class at MSU Denver), Aug 2007 -- Dec 2007 / Implemented writing tutor skills gleaned from class lectures, books and one-on-one student interaction. Presented to the writing tutor class why linguistics is important for writing tutors.
  • Samadhi Center for Yoga 200hr Yoga Teacher Training (2006)

Selected Professional Experience

Jan 2022Apr 2023

Activist Bookseller / Community Outreach

Shop at MATTER

Activist Bookseller from Jan 2022 to April 2023

Community Outreach from Jan 2023 to April 2023

Sept, 2021Jan 2023

Mutineer, Barista, Retail, Events

Mutiny Information Cafe

Help create and connect community at a multi-faceted retail and book store and coffee bar. Host  and promote events such as open mics and music improv sessions.

Feb 2019Jan 2023

Board Member / Volunteer

Creative Music Works
  • Volunteer work in community outreach, media promotions, social media, and communications.
  • Includes email marketing, contact and document management, promotional content, media relations, and acting as one of the organization's artist liaisons.
Sept 2018Jan 2019

Co-Conspirator

Cabal Gallery

Volunteer writer, blogger, researcher for multiple projects, media relations, fundraising, outreach, and various.

July 2018Jan 2019

Reader

Inverted Syntax

Volunteer reader of experimental creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry. 

Jan 2014Present

Ghost Writer/Editor and Content Creator

Freelance/Volunteer
  • Contract employment with multiple companies and individuals: proofreading, editing, writing, blogging, blog assistance and coaching, copywriting, academic books, press releases, social media content, and promotions. Clients include businesses such as Dragonfly Oracle, Inc, Shiva Mandir, Pro.com, Yahoo Homes, Colorado Independent, Matthew Shipp Trio, LifeBound, Art from Ashes, Darker Hue Studios, Denver Foundation, MCA, Creative Music Works, as well as other companies, independent authors and artists.
Jan 2014Dec 2016

Communications/Media Coordinator (Board Member)

Creative Music Works
  • Volunteer work in community outreach, media promotions, social media, and communications.
  • Included email marketing, contact and document management, promotional content, media relations, and acting as artist liaison.
Sept 2015Dec 2015

Editorial Apprentice and Writer

elephant journal
  • Wrote articles, and edited content for the site; kept up with current best practices in publishing and social media; engaged in community outreach by gearing content towards specific audiences with elephant journal readership; collaborated with other elephant journal apprentices.
  • Selected by founder and editor Waylon Lewis' personal invitation and afforded a scholarship.
Jun 2014Jan 2016

Editorial Content Moderator and Writer

Examiner.com (Now Defunct)/AXS.com
  • Reviewed content for newsworthiness and inclusion on company websites, including
  • Examiner.com, AXS.com, and The Rowdy.
  • Edited, created, and curated content for all connected sites from a pool large of writers.
  • Wrote more than 300 articles for the site; conducted interviews, conducted polls, and surveys; pitched, wrote, and promoted news; and followed current news trends.
20072013

Ambassador/Featured Poet

Art From Ashes (Volunteer)
  • Co-founded the poetry library at Art from Ashes, a nonprofit organization that uses poetry, art, and performance to empower youth, soliciting and cataloguing donations of hundreds of books from Denver's poetry community.
  • Served as featured poet for AfA youth workshops, provided social media management and research for the Volunteer Marketing Team, helped create content for newsletter, and researched LOIs for the Grant Writing Team.
  • I also worked very briefly with the organization in 2021, helping to cultivate a list of local poets and performers for AfA events and workshops.
2005Present

Social Media/Writing Promotions

Freelance Social Media Management, Editing, & Writing Services

I use social media conduits with the intention of sharing and connecting, helping non-profits, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs connect with a wider audience, share information and engage in ever-widening likeminded communities.

Selected Experience (Projects/Collaborations)

  • Sai Humanitarian Outreach, May 2012 -- July 2013/Social Media Management and
  • Consultant Shiva Mandir Center for Vedic Studies, May 2012 -- July 2013/Managed social media, including creating and editing the blog and social media content for Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other media resources to attract more students and spread the news about classes and Vedic teachings.
  • Copper Nickel literary magazine, July 2009 -- November 2009/Worked with other interns to generate blog content and promote on social networking platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. Created a "Meet the Editors" blog column.
  • Metro Poets, November 2006 -- December 2007/President and Co-Founder. Managed blogs, email lists, and marketing via Facebook and Auraria Campus internal channels to draw members and facilitators to weekly workshops and classes. Created blog content, articles, correspondence, and meeting minutes to be distributed among the Metro Poets community, and the college campus community. Hosted and/or facilitated weekly meetings in which 10-22 people regularly attended; organized and facilitated a poetry contest for the Tuskegee Airmen ceremony (2007); organized, gathered poetry for and wrote introductions for the Metro Poets' Tuskegee Airmen honorary chapbook; advertised and promoted events for Metro Poets and sister groups; generated ideas and surveyed interested parties for meeting topics; facilitate poetry workshops, Summer 2007.
  • LifeBound, September 2005 -- December 2005/Market research and promotion via online media; drafted letters and announcements for LifeBound market research projects; created content for market research outreach packets; generated ideas for books and office solutions; organized review committees for forthcoming books; co-facilitated one LifeBound seminar at Manual High School; promoted and represented LifeBound books at conventions and to interested high school teachers; drafted book copy.
20072008

Work Study English Department

Metropolitan State College of Denver (Now Metropolitan State University)
  • Answered phones, ran errands, executed basic office duties and directed student and professor questions to proper venues.
Nov 2005Dec 2006

File Clerk

Kutak Rock, LLC
  • Basic office duties; communications with associated attorneys, paralegals, and vendors; record keeping.

Selected Awards, Honors, Volunteerism

  • Rockland Artist Residency, Fall Cohort co-facilitator, October 2022
  • Rockland Artist Residency, Fall Cohort, October 2020. 
  • Writing in Color Retreat with Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Full Sponsorship, July/August 2019. 
  • Margaret Randal Scholarship in Memory of Mark Behr for the Naropa University Summer Writing Program (June 2019).
  • Sponsored for Elephant Journal Editorial Apprenticeship, $500 program fee waived (2015).
  • Writes of Spring Contest at Metropolitan State College of Denver (Five honorable mentions and one 2nd place ranking in the annual contest 2005-2009 in poetry, fiction and academic essay).
  • Provided editorial assistance and writing coaching to Asante M. George for the book Living Our Bliss cookbook, 2008.
  • Multiple scholarships and awards for writing at MSCD (Dorothea Brooke Endowed Scholarship (2007).
  • Candy Lee Osgood Memorial Scholarship (2007).
  • Sponsored for Multicultural Leadership Summit by Metro English Department (2007).
  • Kingdom Enlightenment Scholarship (multiple years).
  • Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society regional High Plains Assistant Student Representative & President at MSCD, 2007-2008.
  • Served on the MSCD Co-Curricular Funding Committee and the Student Travel Committee, 2007.
  • National Scholar’s Honor Society, 2007.
  • Private Study/Mentorship with Dr. Sandra Maresh Doe, 2004-2009.

Selected Activities

2022

  • Mutiny Poetry Night - (host) monthly poetry open mic and features every second Thursday at Mutiny (Feb - November).
  • TedX Mile High - RECONNECT (reading of three poems), July/Aug
  • UNTITLED CREATIVE FUSIONS participant (Denver Art Museum) as a featured poet, June. 
  • Adjudicator, Colorado Book Awards, Juvenile Fiction. 

2021

  • UNTITLED CREATIVE FUSIONS (Denver Art Museum) participant as a featured poet (R. Alan Brooks & We Were Wild), July 2021.
  • Adjudicator, Colorado Book Awards, Juvenile Fiction. 

2020

  • Participant: "Collective Cry" audio-collage by Ella Longpre, Visible Binary , October, 2020. (ed. Patrick Pethybridge)
  • Artists in Place: Sunday Funday Variety Show #15, August.
  • VIRAGO Guest Teacher, September.
  • Scholarship Adjudicator, Red Rocks Community College: Foundation Scholarship, April.
  • Adjudicator, Colorado Book Awards, Short Fiction, April. 
  • Poetic MC & Song: Unseen Festival Migrations, Ann Arbor Film Fest, March 29.
  • Adjudicator: Poetry Out Loud, March 3.
  • Host, FBOMB Flash Fiction Series 7th ed., February 18.

2019

  • UNTITLED FINAL FRIDAY: In/VISIBLE with Lauri Lynnxe Murphy, Poetry Confessions/ Exquisite Corpse, Oct. 2019
  • Literary Curator, Unseen Festival at Counterpath, Sept. 20-29, 2019
  • July 2019, Paonia Poetry Writing Workshop, Summer 2019
  • Featured Reader at At the Inkwell, Denver; host: Hillary Leftwich May 19.
  • Featured Reader, World Press Freedom Day, Denver, May 3.
  • Featured Reader at 31st annual Poetry Rodeo, Denver, April 20.
  • Featured Reader at Art & Feminism Wikipedia Write In, hosted by Arthyve, Mar 10.
  • Featured Reader at Opera on Tap at Syntax: Physic Opera; host: Opera on Tap/ Eve Orenstein, Feb 16.
  • Featured Reader at Punketry, at Mutiny Information Cafe; host: Sarah Rodriguez, Feb 12.
  • Panel: Women and the Beat Legacy with Patricia Calhoun, Jennifer Dunbar Dorn, and Kal Cahoone; moderated by Heather Dalton (Neal Cassady Birthday Bash), at Alamo Draft House, Feb. 9.
  • Featured Reader at Fbomb Flash Fiction Reading Series (Shark Night) at Mercury Cafe; host: Karl Fischer, Jan 15.
  • Panel: Life After the MFA for Regis University residency, Jan. 7.
  • DINK indie comic fest, Artist Adjudication.

2018

  • Featured Reader at Red Rocks Community College English Department Faculty Creative Readings, Oct. 25. 
  • Photograph "They Will Tie You To The Land" accepted for Cabal Gallery Creepshow (Oct 20-Nov 3)
  • Guest Reader at Joint Book Launch for Steven Dunn, Julia Madsen, Nancy Stohlman, and Jason Arment, at Counterpath, Oct 13.
  • Featured Reader at Unseen Festival (Ritual & Repetition) at Dikeou Collection, Sept 26.
  • Co-Curator of readers for Unseen Festival (Contorting Metaphysical Hijinks) at Couterpath, Sept 20.
  • Featured Reader at Unseen Festival (Unseen Offsite) at Tattered Cover Bookstore, Sept 16.
  • Co-Curator of readers for Unseen Festival (Uprooting Ghosts) at Gildar Gallery, Denver, Sept 11.
  • Featured Reader, at Lit Crawl Denver, representing Regis Mile-High MFA, Sept 8.
  • DINK indie comic fest, Artist Adjudication.

2017

  • DINK indie comic fest, Artist Adjudication.
  • PAMLA, 115th Annual Conference: Accepted for Panel Co-Facilitation: "Conversations with the Past: Revising the Masters.
  • Featured Reader in support of Chaun Webster's presentation of Echo North at Counterpath. Nov. 3.
  • Featured Reader at Unseen Festival in support of Amir George's short films at Counterpath. Sept. 22.
  • Featured Reader at Denver Crossroads reading at Mercury Cafe. Aug. 29. host: Carson Reed.
  • Featured Reader at Don't Yell At Me reading series at Still Cellars. Jan.
  • Featured Reader at Spangalanged: Jazzy Flash Fiction & Poetry Reading at Spangalang Brewery. Feb 1.

2016

  • Featured Reader at At the Inkwell reading series at BookBar, Oct 16.
  • Southwest Shootout Poetry SLAM (replacement team), July.

2015

  • PAMLA, 114th Annual Conference: Co-Facilitated Panel "Beyond the Spine: Experimental Poetics and Form."
  •  Featured Reader for Columbine Poets Open Mic at Ziggies, Denver, Dec.

2014

  • PAMLA, 112th Annual Conference: "Sweet Fictions/ for the dream" accepted for panel "Creative Writing: Brief Poetry"
  • Featured Reader for Denver Heat Fundraiser at Mercury Cafe, Aug 9. 

2011

  • Poetry Submissions Reader for Cellar Door Anthology, ed. Michael William Prince

2010

  • Poetry Submissions Reader/ adjudicator for Metrosphere Literary Magazine, ed. Thomas Gerlick.

2009

  • Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project: Poems "Damballa" and "i sing love ballads" accepted  for publication and performance, Sept.

2008

  • Outside Reader (paid) for the Denver School of the Arts' Readmit Portfolios. 

Professional Affiliations

  • Regis University Alum
  • Metro State University of Denver Alum
  • Sigma Tau Delta Alum
  • Active member of Denver Colorado literary, art and music communities.

Selected Serial & Ongoing Publications

Selected Publications

  • “Catalog of Hope”, poem and art collaboration with artists Heather Crank and Greg Amanti (Crahmanti) Zine 0005: Collaboration, Ottawa Design Club, November 2022.

  • Review: "Clyfford Still, Art, and the Young Mind" DARIA: Denver Art Review (Genevieve Waller, ed.), 2022.

  • “if i change my name, will you still love me? wait. i am doing this for me.”, just femme and dandy magazine, vol 2: REBIRTH. 2022.

  • an identity polyptych, (hybrid memoir/book experiment) The Elephants, (ed. Broc Rossell & Jordan Scott), Sept. 2021.
  • An Interview with Erika T. Wurth, Full Stop Reviews, December, 2020 (ed. Kyle Francis Williams).
  • Seven images, cut apart poems, & broadside experiments, Resistance, Reslience, and Joy, A BIPOC Boulder Creatives Zine, Issue One (Kamala Gopalakrishnan, Gwendalynn Roebke, ed.), November 2020. 
  • Review: "Nari Ward: We the People", DARIA: Denver Art Review, (Genevieve Waller, ed.), July 21, 2020.
  • Four Poems from Identity Polyptychs, Rigorous Magazine, February 2020.
  • "Circe" (poem), Lambda Poetry Spotlight, July 16, 2019
  • "O. &Soon" (poem + sound recording), Pulpmouth: Issue One (Bailey Pittenger. Julia Madsen. Rachel Franklin Wood. Emily Barton Altman. Evelyn Hampton, eds.), March 20, 2019.
  • "If you really wanted to hear the news, you would take a walk through the city" (essay + photography) Heavy Feather Review (Jason Teal ed.), 2019
  • "Charles Russell's Elektronika is for Everyone", (article) for Cabal Gallery blog, 2018
  • "Four Artists to Experience at Cabal Creepshow 2018", (article) for Cabal Gallery blog, 2018
  • "Mermaid, 1969" (Poem), anthologized in Poems from the Back Forty by Columbine Poets of Colorado, 2018
  • "egg" (poem), Heavy Feather Review (Jason Teal ed.), 2018.
  • "Mermaid, 1969" (poem-sound recording), Inverted Syntax, (Nawal Nadar-French ed.) 2018.
  • "a strawberry field in Oregon, summer of '96" (poem-sound recording), Inverted Syntax, (Nawal Nadar-French ed.) 2018.
  • "Dream of a Broken Heart", (guest blog) One Art Podcast (Devi Lockwood ed.), Feb. 2018.
  • "Attention" (fiction), Cellar Door: An Anthology: Threshold  (Michael William Prince ed.), 2012.
  • "Mermaid" (poem), Pirene's Fountain (2009).
  • "Waterfall" (poem), Cellar Door: An Anthology, Issue I, (Michael William Prince ed.), Winter 2010, print.
  • "Your Daemon Tongue" (poem), Cellar Door: An Anthology, Issue I, (Michael William Prince ed.), Winter 2010, print.
  • "Ascension" (poem), Cellar Door: An Anthology, Issue I, (Michael William Prince ed.), Winter 2010, print.
  • "i sing love ballads" (poem), Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project (unknown ed.), 9/2009, print.
  • "Damballa" (poem), Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project (unknown ed.), 9/2009, print.
  • "The Adoption" (short fiction), Tales to Oddify, Fall/Winter 2009, (Owen Clifford Esq. ed.), 11/2009.   
  • "Beltane, Nineteen-Ninety-Something at Farmer Browns" (poem), Divine Revolutions Magazine (Asante M. George ed.), 10, 2009.
  • "Mermaid" (poem), Pirene's Fountain (Lark Vernon Timmons ed.), 5/2009.
  • "Damballa" (poem), Metrosphere Magazine (Jessica Snavlin ed.), 1/21/2009, print. 
  • "I sing love ballads" (poem), Metro: For Alumni and Friends of Metropolitan State College of Denver  Alumni Magazine (unknown ed.), Summer 2008, print.
  • "Metallurgy" (poem), Sigma Tau Delta High Plains Newsletter (Jessica Snavlin ed.), 5/2008. 
  • "Without A Compass" (essay), Divine Revolutions Magazine (Asante M. George ed.), 3/5/2008.
  • "Damballa" (poem), Divine Revolutions Magazine (Asante M. George ed.), 3/5/2008.
  • "I sing love ballads" (poem), Metrosphere Magazine (Laura Grolla ed.), 2/2008, print.
  • "The Bad Plus", (music review), Equilibrium Magazine (Amy Garrett-Brown ed), 2007, print.
  • "Love Poem" (poem), Equilibrium Magazine (Amy Garrett-Brown ed.), 2007, print.
  • "Starting a Club Equals Your Best Internship" (article), Sigma Tau Delta High Plains Newsletter (Kristofer Adam Speirs, ed.), Fall 2007.
  • "You Go to School for Shortcuts and Community" (article), Sigma Tau Delta High Plains Newsletter (Kristofer Adam Speirs ed.), Spring, 2007. 
  • A Collection in Honor of the Tuskegee Airmen (chapbook), (ed. Tameca L Coleman), Spring 2007. 
  • "Crumbs" (poem), Metrosphere Magazine (unknown ed.), 11/2006, print.

Selected Images (shows / publications)

  • Curated Show: "In Sickness & In Health" (three digital photographs), June 2022, McNichols Building, (curated by Genevieve Waller & Marygrace C. Bernard)
  • "Untitled: Digital Weird Selfie #?, for east window's Shame Radiant exhibit at Redline Gallery for Denver Month of Photography, (curated by ) 2021.
  • "Untitled: Digital Pandemic Selfie" for the Pandemic Self Portrait series, (curated by Adrienne DeLoe), 2020/21. 
  • "Untitled: Triptych" (three digital photographs), for Keith Rondinelli's piece called "Store"; Inverted Syntax ("Fissured Tongue Series"), (Jesica Carson Davis & Nawal Nadar French, eds.), March 20, 2019. 
  • "Untitled: Sidewalk Flowers in the Rain" (digital photograph) Heavy Feather Review (Jason Teal ed.), 2019
  • "A sneak peek at artist goods up for grabs at the Massive, Epic De-Hoarding Sale on January 5 and 6," (digital photograph) for article by Susan Froyd at Westword ("Twelve Things to Do For First Friday in Denver), Jan 3, 2019.
  • "They Will Tie You to the Land" (digital photograph) Cabal Gallery Creepshow (Mar Williams, Corrina Espinosa, curators), OCareer Journalctober 2018.

Selected Media