"My writing is wide-ranging and concerns the malleability of language and forms. I am interested in the intersections of the innovative and experimental with aspects race, gender, and the more-than-human world. My work is ground in inquiry, ways of knowing, and how language can (and cannot) communicate experiences felt in body and mind. Even at its most cerebral my work is centered in notions of embodiment and the lived experience of seeing and being seen. My practice and process includes photographic and video work and mixed media composition. Current projects include computational poetics and emerging technologies, spell-casting, and collaborative writing." - Lillian-Yvonne Bertram describes her work. Courtesy of Jack Jones Literary Arts.

African Diaspora-New Dialogues is in its 6th official season. It was unofficially kicked off in 2013 with Nikki Giovanni. The past five seasons have featured distinguished writers such as Duriel Harris, Vievee Francis, Tyehimba Jess, Roger Reeves, Dawn Lundy Martin, Chris Abani, Tim Seibles, Mitchell Jackson, Douglas Kearney, Tina McElroy Ansa, Walter Mosley, Lonnie Holley and Nicole Dennis-Benn.

About South Dallas Cultural Center: The South Dallas Cultural Center (SDCC) is a City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs owned community center with a wide variety of programs inspired by the vibrancy and diversity of the African Diaspora. The SDCC seeks to educate and inspire through the visual, media, literary and performing arts. SDCC has presented some of the most dynamic visual and performing arts in Dallas. Retired Manager Vicki Meek’s decades of service to promote art and racial equity have profoundly influenced the cultural life of Dallas and the development of a whole new generation of African American artists. She is the co-developer of The Institute for Creative Investigation in Puerta Viejo, Costa Rica; Board Chair of Friends of the South Dallas Cultural Center; serves on the Advisory Board of WordSpace and co-founder of African Diaspora–New Dialogues with Karen Minzer and Dee Mitchell of WordSpace. Marilyn Clark, SDCC’s Education Director arranges special DISD school visits for the visiting writers of this series.

About WordSpace: WordSpace (WS) is a nonprofit literary arts organization made up of artists that support artists. Our board and team are comprised of volunteer working writers, educators and artists. WS presents world-renowned performers, supports artistic development in Dallas and prioritize programs for cultural equity. Since 1994, WS has presented and paid honoraria to over 2,000 artists. Many award winning writers had their start reading for WordSpace. In addition to African Diaspora- New Dialogues series, WS provides a variety of programming in Dallas. ArtSpeak series pairs local writers with gallery openings. Poets on X+ feature reading series and open mic provides a monthly platform for local poets and musicians. Oral Fixation: an Obsession With True Life Tales brings community together with amateur and professional storytellers. TransNational Impressions is partnered with Latino Cultural Center. Artists have included Natalia Toleda Paz, Natalie Diaz, Yuri Herrera-Gutierrez, Tim Z Hernandez and Rosemary Catacalos. WS hosts an annual literary festival. Other writers who have participated in WS programs include Andrei Codrescu, Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Anne Waldman, Dan Savage, Saul Williams, Walter Mosley and Laurie Anderson.