Shahaddah Jack is a bilingual spoken word poet and human rights activist with a passion for social change. As Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate (2024), she draws from her diverse background to tell stories through an intersectional lens that resonates with a large range of communities.

Her artistic journey, which began at 12 years old, is one full of success. She spent her youth performing at prestigious venues like Hot Docs Cinema, TIFF, and the Meridian Arts Centre. Before 18 years old, Jack had made significant contributions to her community, facilitating workshops that focused on activism, artistic expression and human rights. These efforts earned her the BCG Canada National Youth of the Year Award in 2022.

Jack’s 2023 debut single, “My Mother’s Daughter”, is an exploration of Black womanhood that reflects the themes of her earlier works. Her impacts go beyond the stage, with performances at over 100 venues across Canada. She has been recognized as one of Toronto’s most inspirational women by Streets of Toronto and has received media attention, featuring her work on CBC Radio Canada, City News, and Nuit Blanche.

As a committed community member, Jack continues to share her artistic expertise through workshops and partnerships with organizations like VIBE Arts, Guelph University, TDSB and Peacebuilders Canada. Through her debut novel, Underrated Royalty, she continues to blend spoken word with a call for social change.