Uchechi conducts individual and group writing workshops for youth and adults. She spent 4 years teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, where she worked under the guidance of the late poet June Jordan. Her work included conducting poetry workshops with graduate and undergraduate students. During the same time, she led adult workshops with women at FCI Dublin Women's prison.

Most recently, she conducted a week-long writing workshop at the Blue Mountain Retreat Center in Upstate New York. She weaves together the urgency of telling one's story with practical techniques for each person to explore his or her "truth." Although the focus is poetry, many genres of writing are explored. Subjects vary, but highly depend on the needs of the individual or group. The workshops are based on the belief that telling one's story can lead to personal and social transformation.

Here are some responses to Uchechi's teaching:

Uchechi has a commanding presence in the classroom. She is an experienced educator who powerfully communicates her love for literature. She inspires her students to work hard and take risks. Trained as a teacher-activist on June Jordan's model, Uchechi embodies the mind of a serious writer with the spirit of a cultural worker.
-Janet Heller
Program Manager
San Francisco WritersCorps

Uchechi Kalu helped me broaden the impact of my poetry by teaching
me to write and speak with precision and specificity. Uchechi's style of
teaching fostered a classroom environment where I felt safe experimenting
with my poetic voice, but she always challenged us to deliver the highest
qualit y work.
-Pablo Dosh
former UC Berkeley student, activist poet
political science professor, Macalester College

In working with young people in high schools and in the community, she [Uchechi] knows how to pass on the power of poetry. She's committed to the craft and carries on June [Jordan]'s tradition of truth, inspiration and courage in writing.
-Ruth Forman
Author, We Are the Young Magicians(1993), Renaissance(1997)

Ms. Kalu has been teaching college undergraduates, middle and high school students for the past six and a half years. She also worked with AfroSolo on teaching youth poetry and writing skills in our AIDS Education program. I have always found her to be extremely professional.
-Thomas Simpson
Founder, Artistic Director
AfroSolo Theatre Company, San Francisco

For more information on rates and availability, please contact Uchechi.