Jamaal Jackson Rogers – Biography
Jamaal Jackson Rogers is an award winning poet, arts educator, creative entrepreneur, and performance artist. As a poet, he was selected to be Ottawa’s first English Poet Laureate after 27 years in which the position had gone unfilled, while his career in arts education has earned him 2016’s Ontario Arts Educator Award. He has brought his practice to audiences locally and internationally and his defining moments are when he makes intimate connections with his participants during workshop exchanges and performance sets.
His topics range from emotional maturity to social justice, from parenting to the human condition, and has been highlighted in festivals, documentaries and educational institutions across the world. He resides in Ottawa, Canada, with his wife and six children, using the national capital region and his performance studio, THE ORIGIN ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE, as his launch pad to teach, mentor and advocate for the arts.
The CDCC Artist Profile Series – Q&A
Q. What initially drew you to writing and poetry?
A. It was when I first picked up an anthology of poems written by Langston Hughes. I was 9 years old. I read “Harlem”, and for the first time I felt that my own experiences of rejection were reflected in someone who understood my story.
Q. What was your experience like as Artist in Residence this past year at Carleton?
A. My journey as AIR at Carleton was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had in my career as arts educator and artist. I was able to explore and teach two of my favourite expressions of creativity; music and spoken word. Students were as eager to deepen their knowledge of linguistics communication through songwriting and poetry. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to teach and mentor during my time as AIR.
Q. What was it like to participate in and host various events at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre?
A. Collaborating with professors who are also highly trained professional musicians was the highlight of the events that I hosted and participated in. Watching them transition from educators and then performing, while sharing the stage with them provided me perspective on my work as a creative. I also had the pleasure of witnessing the marvelous energy that is the Carleton community through these events.
Q. What advice would you offer to someone trying to pursue a career in writing and poetry?
A. If a person is looking to turn their passion/hobby into their career, then my advice would be to never give up. Use that passion and transfer it into the pursuit of achieving your goals as a professional. Exhaust all options, give in when certain doors do not open, but never give up on the vision. Do not rely on handouts and blaze your own path if necessary. Additionally, study the greats.
Q. How has your work been impacted during COVID-19?
A. The viral pandemic has slowed my live performances and completely halted my workshop schedule. However, it has helped me to refocus my attention on projects that I have been neglecting, such as video production and song recording.
Q. Were there any special projects that you have undertaken during the quarantine time?
A. I have shifted my focus on building a rural retreat for artists. Once the science told us that we could be in this socially distanced manner of engagement, I decided to launch my long term plan of building a retreat that would offer artists the opportunity to escape, create and showcase.
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