Ayodele Nzinga is the inaugural poet laureate of Oakland, California. She's an arts and culture theoretician/practitioner working at the intersections of cultural production, community development, and community wellbeing to foster transformation in marginalized communities. Nzinga holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing and Consciousness and Doctorate of Philosophy in Transformative Education and Change. Described as a renaissance woman, Ayodele is a producing director, playwright, poet, dramaturg, actress, performance consultant, arts educator, community advocate, and a culture bearing anchor.
