Neko Smart

Neko Smart’s provocative poetry is an emotional journey that takes an unflinching look at feminism, gender, the queer body, intersectionality, ancestry, and mental health. They are the founder and former captain turned coach of the award-winning Vic High Slam Poetry Team. In their role of 2020 Victoria City Youth Poet Laureate, Neko’s goal was to emphasise the importance of cultivating open dialogue about mental health in order to reduce stigma and increase safety, particularly for youth. They carry this value with them in all their artistic and leadership endeavours: as a member of the organising committee for the 2020/2021 Victorious Voices youth arts festival, as a member of both Raising Voices and Wordplay poetry workshop facilitation rosters, and as an executive member of the UBC Slam Poetry Club.