Poet Nikkita Oliver Returns to Olympia for 2017 Women of Achievement Celebration

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS

In November, YWCA Olympia is welcoming back nationally known slam poet Nikkita Oliver to Olympia. Last spring, Oliver was keynote speaker at the YWCA’s inaugural Racial Justice Summit.

This fall, Oliver returns for theĀ Annual Women of Achievement Celebration at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The event will honor Women of Achievement honorees, and will include a catered reception with attendees and a celebration with live music by Lizzy & Tarik Duo. All proceeds from the annual event will benefit YWCA Olympia social, racial and gender justice programs.

Oliver is nationally acclaimed for combatting racism and for powerful artistic statements in support of diversity, inclusion and racial justice.

ā€œIt is very important right now to discuss the issue of racism in a way that people understand,ā€ said Lanessa Inman, YWCA Olympiaā€™s racial-justice director. ā€œIt is a public-health crisis that impacts everyone and we need to address it in a way that is real and meaningful. This is something we feel Nikkita does so well ā€” from her incredibly beautiful gift with words and personal life experience, to her deep understanding of how racism and systemic oppression thrive in a community like ours.ā€

Oliver is the 2015 recipient of the Seattle Office of Civil Rights Artist Human Rights Leader Award, and was the Seattle Poetry Slam Grand Champion 2014. She has been on and coached numerous national poetry slam teams at both the youth and adult levels. Oliver has also opened for Cornel West and Chuck D of Public Enemy and performed on The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert.

What: Annual Women of Achievement Celebration

When:ā€Æ 5:30 p.m. Reception / 6:00 p.m. Main Event
Friday, November 10

Where:Ā Washington Center for the Performing Arts
512 Washington SE, Olympia

How much: $45 / person – $125 / VIP pass ($35 seniors/military and $25 youth)

Learn more: 360-352-0593 | YWCA Women of Achievement

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