Karen is a Toronto-based writer who has performed original spoken word poetry since 1995. She is a graduate of McGill University and the University of King's College where she earned degrees in Political Science and Journalism respectively. Her involvements in the arts span disciplines as diverse as literature, theatre, music and film. Karen was a co-editor of T-Dot Griots: An Anthology of Toronto's Black Storytellers with Steven Green.(2004) The book contains poetry, articles and stories by more than forty African-Canadian artists. T-Dot Griots is currently required reading in two courses offered by the University of Toronto's department of English. She was the recipient of the 2004 City of Brampton Arts Acclaim Award. She was the creator and host of La Parole, a popular weekly Toronto performance series that provided audiences for more than two hundred unique multidisciplinary performance and visual artists over its two year span.

In 2005, Karen served as a juror for the Canada Council for the Arts Spoken Word Festivals and Series Program. She was commissioned to write "Questions for Mary", for a holiday special on Roger's Television. The episode which featured her video performance aired nationally and won a 2006 Telly Award for outstanding video production in the television program category. Karen produced a poetic video commentary that was purchased by CBC News and broadcast throughout the Maritimes. She also worked as a segment producer for Sun TV's documentary series Echo, where she profiled diverse Torontonians making a difference. Recently Karen worked alongside filmmaker Seth- Adrian Harris on his dramatic feature "When Moses Woke." as 2nd Assistant Director. Karen has worked in theatre as a producer of Trey Anthony's hit play, "Da Kink in My Hair." She also dabbles in music as a songwriter and studio backup singer. Karen's love of music has led her to singing in both gospel and classical choral ensembles. She also spent a summer singing with a Toronto-based Afrobeat band.

Karen regularly contributes entertainment articles to www.toronto-lime.com.  You can also her catch her on the air weekly as Nurse Karen on Flow 93.5 FM's "Soca Therapy".

Visit her website at www.mustardseeds.net .