Colin Gilbert, a native East Texan, grew up in the country with hard work and family values etched into his very being. But barbed wire fences couldn't make the man country. Soon enough, Colin found his new home in Dallas. In the summer of 2005, he began writing and performing his poetry and immediately received local recognition. His poetry covers a number of topics ranging from family values and heart break to social commentary and prejudice. He leaves no stone unturned in his efforts to recreate the world a better place. While his poetry offers a unique, educated, hard-hitting, emotionally-packed view of life in all its beautiful and faulted manifestations, he's not afraid to make you laugh along the way. As one audience member in Addison noted, "His poems are more than well-written. They're important. Even when I was laughing, I was thinking. And when I was crying, somehow, it wasn't because I was sad. I can?t wait to see another show."

    
Most recently, he was announced as the winner of Chicago State University's Hughes, Diop, Knight Poetry Award, an annual literary award given by the Gwendolyn Brooks Writing Center for poems that "uniquely express the Black experience." Along with various other slam and writing accolades, Colin is the first and only poet to hold the title, Dallas All-City Slam Champion, having won the 2006 Poetry Grind Grand Slam Championship, the 2006 Dallas City Grand Slam Championship and the Deep Ellum Arts Festival Slam. He also claimed the 2006 Dallas/Fort Worth Unity Grand Slam title which represents a collection of the top spoken word and performance poets in Dallas and Fort Worth. He currently holds EVERY performance poetry title in Dallas, including all three Head-to-Head Haiku Death Match Championships held in 2006.

Over the past year, Colin has been selected to perform and lead writing workshops at a number of schools and universities throughout the south. He has shared the stage with notable performers such as D. Ellis, Biz Markie and Rickey Smiley and has been asked to perform at a number of public and private locations, including Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Additionally, poetry readings and slam venues across the nation have chosen to feature his poetry and performances for audiences of all ages. Colin is currently completing his Master's Degree in Political Science while in the middle of his nationwide tour.

"Of all the poems I heard this weekend, that is the one that is going to stick with me. I'm going to be thinking about that poem for a long time. This guy is one heck of a writer."
-Ray McNeice, 2x Team National Poetry Slam Champion

"Normally, I wouldn't bring a poet up to contend with these hot comedians, but I know this guy and he is going to bring it big. You are in for a treat."
-Rickey Smiley, nationally-touring comedian, former host of BET's "Comicview"

"Bringing Colin in to perform for my students was the best thing that has ever happened while I have been a teacher at this school. So many students left that day inspired, writing poetry, excited about school. He's an incredible writer, an entertaining performer and he's changing lives with his poetry."
-Danny Knowles, English teacher, Brewer Middle School