MICHELLE MYERS is an award-winning poet and educator. As a founding member of the Asian American female spoken word poetry group Yellow Rage, she was one of the first Asian American women to appear on HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. Michelle’s TEDx Talk “Let Hearts Love. Let Hearts Live” debuted on the TEDx YouTube Channel in December 2023. Most recently, Michelle received a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. As an educator, she also was presented with the 2024 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award as well as the Octavius V. Catto Legacy Award for Advocacy by the Community College of Philadelphia. Finally, Michelle hosts a podcast called Mind Your Margins, which is produced by her daughter, Myong.
Michelle has been affiliated with the Asian Arts Initiative since 2000 when she participated in the Something to Say writing and performance workshop facilitated by Gary San Angel. Over the past 20+ years, Michelle has participated as a performing artist in the following programs:
Something to Say (2 workshops and performance events)
Artist Exchange: Remembering Vincent Chin
Artist Exchange: Edge of the World
Asians Misbehavin’: NY Fringe Festival
Asians Misbehavin: Philly Fringe Festival
The SHE Book (Solo show)
Pearl Street Block Party
She also coordinated/curated/hosted the following programs and projects at AAI:
AAI Oral History Project
Family Style Open Mic Series
AAI’s 25th Anniversary Performance Showcase
AAI’s 25th Anniversary Chapbook
Photo credit: David Lee
