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Imani is one of those rare beings who brings spirit, joy, genius and wisdom to her workshops, artwork, poetry and cultural gatherings.

To be in her presence, witness her works or read her poetry is to be blessed and inspired!



DOROTHY RANDALL GRAY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR, SPOKEN WORD POET, FORMER LOS ANGELES POET-IN-RESIDENCE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE FOR TRANSFORMATION



exhibiting VISUAL ARTIST

WEHO Pride Arts Festival,
CITY OF WEST hollywood
2026



lgbt artist shaping culture

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER HERITAGE MONTH CALENDAR & CULTURAL GUIDE, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
2025



Featured poet & speaker

Forever Fierce: Lesbian Writers Remembered, Curated by Women Writers & Artists Matrix, Los Angeles LGBT Center
2025



librettist

Fire and Blue Sky. Composer, Joel Thompson. Librettist, Imani Tolliver. Tenor, Russell Thomas. Mezzo-Soprano, Deborah Nansteel. Conductor, Lina González-Granados. World Premiere, LA Opera’s 2023/24 Season, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
2024



FEATURED POET & SPEAKER

ONE ARCHIVES FOUNDATION + QUEER BIENNIAL: HAND IN HAND WITH TRACI KATO-KIRIYAMA & IMANI TOLLIVER
2022



FEATURED VISUAL ARTIST & POET

Queer Diasporas: Lavender City of Dreams | A Virtual and Live Exhibition, LGBTQ Arts Festival,
City of West Hollywood
2022



FEATURED POET

WEHO READS: SONGS AND SIGNS OF HOPE AND HEALING, CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA
2022



Visual Art Tutorial

LACMA Unframed: I See Myself In You. Personal Essay and Self-Portrait tutorial inspired by the black american portraits exhibition
2021



FEATURED CHANGEMAKER

ONE ARCHIVES FOUNDATION QUEER BIENNIAL PRIDE PUBLICS: WORDS AND ACTIONS EXHIBITION
2021



FEATURED POET & SPEAKER

WE RISE 2021: LOVE LETTERS IN LIGHT DOCUMENTARY, ELECTRIC PARK FILMS
2021



POETRY & VISUAL ART WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

VIRTUAL POETRY AND CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
2021



POETRY & VISUAL ART WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WRITING GUILD
2021



FEATURED POET

LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
2018



CULTURAL & FINE ARTS SUPERVISOR
​
CITY OF BUENA PARK, CA
2007-2020



PANELIST & SPEAKER

I COME TO WITNESS: WRITERS AS THE CHILDREN OF AUDRE LORDE AND JAMES BALDWIN ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS & WRITING PROGRAMS CONFERENCE
2016



KEYNOTE SPEAKER

VOICE MUSIC FOR WHOLE LIVING:
PETER J. HARRIS & IMANI TOLLIVER
ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL CONFERENCE, METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL
2014



KEYNOTE SPEAKER

POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY: EXPLORING THE HEALING NATURE OF THE WRITTEN WORD ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL CONFERENCE, METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL
2013



KEYNOTE SPEAKER

LGBTQ+ PRIDE GRADUATION CEREMONY, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES
2011



POETRY WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES
2010



POETRY WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES
2009



PANELIST

QUEER TEXT(URES): READING AND WRITING LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY HISTORY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
2008



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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.