About (EPK)

BOOKINGS & INQUIRIES: meetmaradigm@aol.com, joann.roberts15@gmail.com

FULL BIO:
A native of the Universe, Joann “Paradigm” Roberts, aka “The Jovian”, was born and raised in the Chicago area. A poet/MC and musician/producer; Paradigm is a 3-time slam champion as well as a Hip Hop educator and teaching artist for at-promise youth. She promotes healing, self-reflection, awareness, and liberation by blending STEM with the expressive arts and is known for her laid back, mellow stage presence that is complimented by powerfully cosmic wording.

Paradigm travels all over the U.S. and overseas, performing music and poetry, as well as facilitating Hip Hop and poetry workshops that encourage healing and self-expression in others. She harmonizes topics in physics, metaphysics, and philosophy for purposes of engaging in meaningful dialogue, creativity, and spiritual growth. In addition to speaking at many colleges and universities, she has opened for Cornel West and performed on stage with Reggae artist Pato Banton. Paradigm also does feature performances at various events such as slams, open mics, festivals, and retreats.

The arts aside, Paradigm dwells in her passions for travel, teaching and mentoring inner city youth, piloting small planes, and spending time in nature. She obtained a BS in Engineering-Physics with a Philosophy minor at Chicago State University and earned a Private Pilot Certificate from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Currently, Paradigm is employed as a physicist/flight test engineer in southern California, where she is also pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and educational leadership. 

WORKS:
“Continuum, A Collection of Poetry” Poetry Book 2018
“Words From Saturn” Poetry Book 2015 Link
“Soular Systems” Mixtape 2015 Link
“Parallels” Poetry Book 2014 Link
“(r)Evolutionary Suicide” Mixtape 2014 Link
“Heart Chakras and Astronauts” EP 2013 Link
“The Pen Helps” Poetry Book 2012 Link
“Redshifts” LP 2012 Link

PRESS:
“The Poetic Soul Artistry with Lez Elegance” Blog Talk Radio, Chicago, IL. January 2015 Listen
Co-host, “The Queer Countdown with Niki Gee” Blog Talk Radio, Chicago, IL. May 2014
“The Pansophy Project with Niki Gee” Blog Talk Radio, Chicago, IL. 2013
“The Rebel Takeover with Brandi Madison” Blog Talk Radio, Las Vegas, NV. 2013
Butch Voices Conference Article 2013 Read
The Savannah Connect Newspaper 2012 Read
Savannah College of Art and Design Newspaper 2012
Two Pens and Lint Publisher Website 2012
“Book Beatz Internet Radio with Sharon & Imara” Blog Talk Radio, Savannah, GA. 2012 Listen

FEATURES:
(Does not reflect all events – see Tour page for more listings)
S.P.I.T. Spoken Poets InTellectualizing, 2020
Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club Awards, 2019
The Drunken Retort 5 Year Anniversary, Grand Rapids 2018
Soul Sessions, Las Vegas 2013 & 2017
Roar Shack, Los Angeles 2016
Lyrics & Libations, Chicago 2016
The Definitive Soapbox, Long Beach 2016 & 2018
Portland Poetry Slam, 2015
Vancouver Poetry Slam, 2015
Youth Speaks Seattle Slam, 2015
Eugene Poetry Slam, 2015
Quare Square Collective Anniversary Launch, Chicago 2014
The Newness Experience, Columbus 2014
Seattle Poetry Slam 2014 & 2015
Queerest Spoken Word, Seattle 2014
The Human Experience, Las Vegas 2013 & 2014
The Apache Café, ATL 2013
Pow Wow, Chicago 2012
Spitfire Saturdays, Savannah 2012-2017
Revolutionary Words, Bronx 2011
The Art of Creation (Women’s History Month), Bronx 2011
The Nuyorican Café, NYC 2011
Hip Hop Meets Spoken Word, Bronx 2010
Soapbox Confessions Iwakuni, Japan 2010

SLAMS:
San Diego Poetry Slam, San Diego, 1st Place Dec 2018
Nuyorican Poetry Slam, NYC, 1st Place July 2017
Da Truth Poetry Slam, Las Vegas, 1st Place April 2017
Uptown Poetry Slam, Chicago, 1st Place May 2014, July 2017, Feb & Oct 2018
Eugene Poetry Slam, 2nd Place, March 2014
Seattle Poetry Slam, 1st Place, 2013 & 2014
Savannah Slam Champion, 2013, 2014, 2017
San Diego Festival Poetry Slam, 3rd Place, 2012

SCHOOLS:
Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA. 2017-2021
Cal State Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA. 2016
South Shore K-8, Guest Speaker, Seattle, WA. 2015
Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA. 2014 & 2015
Groves High School, Garden City, GA. 2014
Everett College, “Black Legacy Series with Dr. Cornel West”, Everett, WA. 2014
Cal State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA. 2013
Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD. 2012
Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC 2010

“SISTER JOANN WILL CAUSE TROUBLE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD. SHE KNOWS AND SPEAKS THE TRUTH.” -DR. CORNEL WEST

FESTIVALS:
The Warped Tour, U.S. 2017
SXSW, Austin, TX. 2017
Lambda Festival, Los Angeles 2017
QTPOC Festival Tucson, AZ. 2016
Auburn Day Festival Auburn, WA. 2015
Festival Sundiata Seattle (With Wale), WA. 2014
Savannah Spoken Word Festival Savannah, GA. 2013 & 2014
Umoja Fest Seattle, WA. 2013
Art Festival, Greenbriar Mall (With Red Summer), Atlanta, GA. 2012

CONFERENCES:
Red-tailed Hawks Flying Club – Seattle, WA. 2014 – 2020
National Society of Black Physicists – Virtual – 2020
LGBTQ Allyship Conference Seattle, WA. 2014
Butch Voices Conference Oakland, CA. 2013, 2017, 2018

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Pato Banton Concert- Riverside, CA. 2013
“Bronx Stories”- Bronx, NY. 2011

RETREATS:
Actualize Retreat – Private Location, CA. 2017-2022
NIA Retreat- Petaluma, CA. 2014 & 2016
Black Lesbians United Annual Retreat- Malibu, CA. 2013-2018

WORKSHOPS OFFERED:
“Intersections through Artistic Expression: An Expressive Look at Intersectionality”
“Healing Through the Arts: Poetry as Therapy. Poetry for and of Our Generations”
“Healing Through the Arts: Hip Hop as Therapy”
“The How-To’s of Being a Full-Time Poet”
“Slam Poetry. Page Poetry. Performance Poetry. Comparisons and Contrasts”
“Talking Across Generations” Co-Host, LGBTQ Allyship Conference- Seattle, 2014
ARTreach, poetry workshop volunteer- Las Vegas, Fall 2012

COMMUNITY WORK:
Youth Mentor & Teaching Artist- Non-Profit/Volunteer Work – Chicago, IL. & Los Angeles, CA. 2016 – Current
Youth Mentor – Red-tailed Hawks Flying Club – Seattle, WA. 2014 – Current
NIA Collective “Intergenerational Dialogue” Panel Member, NIA Retreat- Petaluma, CA. 2014
Intergenerational Conference Committee Member, Stage Manager, & Show Coordinator- LGBTQ Allyship – Seattle, WA. 2014-2016
Math and Science Tutor- University Tutors For Seattle Schools – Seattle, WA. 2014-2016
Substitute Teacher- Nevada 2011-2015 – Washington 2014-2016
Youth Mentor- Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club – Mukilteo, WA. 2014-Current
ARTreach Volunteer – Las Vegas, NV. 2012-2012
Co-founder and co-host of Open Mic Night at Vaughn College of Aeronautics – Flushing, NY – Fall 2010

GROUP AFFILIATIONS:
The XKnights, Chicago
U.N.D.E.R.G.R.O.U.N.D. A.R.T.S, Chicago – SIUC
The Artist Collective, NYC
Spitfire Poetry Group, Savannah, GA