Francesco Levato is a poet, activist, and new media artist. He is the author of "Marginal State", a collection of poetry that tackles issues ranging from domestic violence and exploitation to war and political unrest. He is also a vocal advocate of using the arts as a form of political engagement and social responsibility. His poetry has been published internationally in journals and anthologies, both in print and online, including "Versal"; "Arabesques Review"; "Shark Forum"; and "Out of Line". His poetry-based video artwork has been shown at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and exhibited in galleries in New York, Chicago, and elsewhere.