FANTA BALLO is a poet, artist, and activist from Harlem, New York. At 19 she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Albany. She received her associate’s degree at Bard College at Simon’s Rock where she was the commencement speaker. She has performed her poetry at events ranging from protests and rallies to school auditoriums, for organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, Words on White, New Aged Black Panthers, 826NYC, UAlbany Student Association and A BroaderWay, and at venues like NYC’S Playstation Theatre and DC’S Kennedy Center. She has collaborated with artists like Idina Menzel, Jeanine Tesori, Shihan Van Clief, and Ayodele Casel and champions other young artists with her work. She performed at a Juneteenth event hosted by the NYC Mayor and his wife. She was awarded the first ever wonder grant from the Shawn Mendes Foundation and she’s using that grant to fund her debut poetry collection “For All The Things I Never Got To Say”. which is on pre-order now at www.FantaBallo.com