Press
Featured Poet at Bloomberg Philanthropies Earthshot Prize Summit
September 21st, 2022
Fanta Ballo performed alongside other Youth Poets and renowned Poet Laureate Joy Harjo at the Bloomberg Earthshot Prize Summit.
Featured Poet at Barclays Center
June 31st, 2022
Fanta Ballo perfomed an original poem at the Barclays Center highlighting the LGBTQ for Pride Night.
Global Citizen's Mention
September 25, 2021
19. Shawn Mendes shared the stage with Fanta Ballo. Alternating between guitar and piano, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes had the crowd rapt as he went through his hits. In the middle of his set, he brought slam poet Fanta Ballo onto the stage for a rousing poem about resilience.
Shawn Foundation Grant
December 17, 2020
Fanta Ratty is extremely proud and excited to be the first ever wonder grant grantee and is excited to finish her anthology. She has a story worth telling.
Spectrum News Feature
February 07, 2021
Fanta Ratty was featured on Spectrum News where they highlighted her path to success.
RollingOut feature
January 19, 2021
"Age is not a determining factor of success. Eighteen-year-old college senior and prolific writer Fanta Ballo is evidence of that. The Harlem, New York, native tells the story of her community and identity through spoken word poetry."
UAlbany Today feature
January 26, 2021
A 19-year-old UAlbany senior is the first recipient of a “Wonder Grant” from a foundation dedicated to supporting those it describes as “creative students who are actively working to change the world with their innovative ideas.”
Commencement Speaker
May 18, 2019
Along with graduating with her Associates degree from Bard College at Simon's Rock, she was also honored to be the commencement speaker.
Fanta's Activism
April 20, 2018
Outside of poetry, Fanta takes pride in her activism and fighting for what's right.