
February 9, 2023
The InKY Reading Series is a free author series broadcast live on Zoom. Watch archived readings on the LLA YouTube channel.

David Hammond is a father of a 9-year-old daughter.
He is also owner of Hammond's Painting LLC. A commercial and residential painting company. Painting is like therapy for David. It allows him time to think, pray, and clear his mind a little. Prior to writing his first self-published book, he received an associate degree in business management and an associate degree in graphic design. David plans to use his painting and management skills to reach out to the younger generation and teach them a trade and guidance hoping to keep them off the streets. Reach one teach one. David believes that once God calls you out of something, He then prepares you to send you back in to bring someone else out.
David Hammond

Thomas Kneeland
Thomas Kneeland is a speaker, poet, author, English Language Arts teacher in adult education and a dual credit English instructor. He is the author of five poetry collections: Shades of Gold (2018), Uncaged (2019), Stop F*cking Killing Us, 1st and 2nd Editions (2021), and Guardian (2022). He holds a Master of Arts from Indiana Wesleyan University and is a 3rd year MFA Candidate at Butler University.
Kneeland has performed and recited his work for a number of organizations, including, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc (Upsilon Omega Zeta Chapter), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (of which he is an active member), and the South Bend Chapter of Black Lives Matter — which received national recognition by the Black Lives Matter National Organization.
Kneeland’s writing has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Rigorous Magazine, Clepsydra Literary & Art Magazine, The Hyacinth Review, INverse Poetry Archives, You Might Need to Hear This, High Shelf Press, and Up The Staircase Quarterly. He is also the Founder & Executive Director of The Kneeland Center for Poetry, Inc. and the Editor-in-Chief of The Elevation Review, an internationally-recognized, biannual journal of poetry. You may also find his poetry on display on Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis.
A majority of Kneeland’s current work brings attention to the origins of systemic oppression for people of African descent, dating back as early as 1526. This systemic oppression has been woven through the Civil Rights Era, the Black Arts Movement, and now to today with countless cases of wrongful death, police brutality, xenophobia, and hate crimes. Kneeland is available for speaking engagements in 2023 and is currently open for commissioning poems.
You may follow Thomas Kneeland at the following platforms:
Instagram: @thomaskneelandofficial
Medium: Thomas Kneeland, M.A.
Facebook: Thomas Kneeland (Writer)
Twitter: @ThomasKneeland