KEN ARKIND's impressive career as a poet is built on his strong involvement in social activism and dedication to the art form of Spoken Word.

Since 2003, Ken has been a member of the Denver Mercury Slam Team, which has finished in the top ten at the National Poetry Slam 4 times in 6 years, winning the competition and becoming National Champions in 2006.

He has led workshops and performed in more than 100 high schools and universities from one end of the U.S. to the other, from the University of California in Chico to the Cleveland Institute of Art, to Rutgers University in NJ and The Custer Youth Correctional Facility.

Ken's commitment to Denver poetry is evident in his position as Project Coordinator and coach for the Denver Minor Disturbance Youth Team where he works closely with 13-19-year-old poets in their development as performance poets, and in his numerous local poetry honors including winning the titles of 2004 Pablo Neruda Poetry Slam Champ, and 2005 Denver City Champ.

He has felt honored to share stages with many incredible performers including Last Comic Standing winner Josh Blue, hip-hop activist Sage Francis, musical groups The Flobots and Achille Lauro, as well as fellow poets Jared Paul, Mike McGee, Andrea Gibson, and Yusef Komunyaka, winner of the 1994 Pulitzer Prize in poetry.

Ken has been featured as a guest speaker at numerous political actions, marches and protests in Denver, and tours regularly across the nation as half of The Dynamic Duo, paired with Panama Soweto, a teammate from his 2006 National Poetry Slam Champion team.