National Poetry Month: Excuse Me While I Write...
“…words are phenomenal; with music they become song; with rhythm they become poetry; collectively or individually they make statements that portray, provoke, and induce life. Most importantly, he believes that words are an outlet and the canvas of positive creative expression.”
-J. Dwayne Garnett, Love Is A Parable
April is National Poetry Month, and Love Is A Parable would like to do its part and recognize locally known poets for their literary craft. According to Oxford Languages, poetry is defined as “literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.” Therefore, we would like to afford you the opportunity to connect with these wordsmiths and creative geniuses but also, to support them and the various initiatives they have.
Chenae Lavette also known as C.L.E The Artist. She is a native of Camden, NJ. I am a proud graduate of two HBCUs, Saint Augustine's University and North Carolina Central University School of Law. She started writing poetry at age 11 when her cousin was killed in North Philadelphia, PA.
After his death, Chenae found poetry to be an outlet. Over the years, she allowed God to expand her writing so it could be a message to the faint at heart. Her first stage was at St. John Baptist Church in Camden, NJ at age 14. After her first performance, she became a regular at Poetry in the Park, an event given for young poets in the New Jersey area.
Eventually, she went on to win her high school talent show, and soon after, she won her first college talent show and was known as the "Poetry Girl" when she attended Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC.
She has participated in several speaking engagements from small churches, the infamous BusBoys and Poets, to having the honor to minister for Sybrina Fulton (the mother of Trayvon Martin).
She is the author of Vent: The Different Faces of Me, "I Almost Held On," and "Woman." Her favorite scriptures are Romans 8:31, "If God is for you who can be against you," and Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Visit iamcletheartist.com to learn more about Chenae and ways to support.
“Tr1umph@nt!” (Michael Duane Jenkins, Jr.) was born in Detroit, MI on March 6th, 1980. He suffered from jaundice as a newborn and was considered to be underweight. This resulted in the infant having an extended stay in the hospital, as he was not cleared by the physicians to be taken home to live with his parents for several months. During that time, he was subject to medical supervision. Very early on, the medical staff noted how different he was in comparison to other infants. He’d barely interact with the world around him. In the coming weeks, doctors determined that there was a need for testing his sight and hearing, as well as his cognitive development. The interpreted results were shocking. The doctors subjectively determined that, though his hearing and sight were normal, his brain functionality wasn’t. By age 2, he was diagnosed as a non-verbal child within the autism spectrum. It was that moment that became the genesis of his and his mother’s fight for his life. They sought out to prove them wrong…
Through years of choosing heart-wrenching dedication over prescription medication, Michael’s mother managed to not only get him up to speed but have him run laps around the race inside his mind. By age 5, he was fervently verbal and articulate to boot. By age 9, Michael was reading at the ninth-grade level. The secret? Songs. It was poetry in motion, spoken in rhythm to the beat of a culture’s heart. This, between Michael’s mom and dad, begat a grand idea--submerge him into this culture...and see where it takes him. For the first time in his life, what he was learning in school and what he was loving at home matched--perfectly.
Visit thetr1umphantone.com to learn more about Tr1umph@nt and ways to support.
Terrance P. Elmore is an author, poet, and podcast host that’s doing his part to spread love in a world that seems to be full of hate; one poem, one podcast, and one message at time. He’s the author of “Love Letters: A Collection of Poems” and “The Essence of Love.” Both poetry collections are centered around love because he recognized a need to distinguish the difference between real love and misrepresented love.
His love for writing began at an early age, but outside of the classroom, it wasn’t something that many people knew. He always loved writing assignments and looked forward to county writing tests. The love for poetry really started shaping when he learned about Langston Hughes and The Harlem Renaissance. As an adult, he continued to write poems, but it still wasn’t something that many people knew until he decided to create a poetry blog and publish his first book.
The main focus of his poetry is about love, hope, and inspiration because that’s something the world could use more of. TheBrownSugarCafe.blog now features the occasional lifestyle blog posts that have become the inspiration for his podcast episodes. The Brown Sugar Café blog is a place where poetry meets the heart and The Brown Sugar Café podcast is the place where poetry meets conversation.
Visit https://thebrownsugarcafe.blog/ to learn more about Terrance and ways to support.
Yolanda A. Barnes aka Yogii With 2 I’s is an award winning Spoken Word artist, painter, and workshop facilitator. She is credited for being the first Fayetteville poet to compete in a major regional slam competition that in turn brought the city of Fayetteville visible to the Poetry Slam world. She is also the author of the book, “Y Aren’t U Listening” and the owner of Inspired Ink Creative Consulting.
Visit https://linktr.ee/yogiiw2is to learn more about Yogii and ways to support.
A native of Fayetteville, NC; Lawrence "Law" Bullock II is the founder of MagnifyUnifyGlorify "M.U.G.", LLC. Incorporating his artistry of photography and spoken word; Law has been a part of multiple events, and publications and helped to organize events as well.
A graduate of Fayetteville State University; Law has used his creativity to self-publish four collections of poetry ("PoetryMyMemory", "AnatomyofMyLovePoem", "Breakingthe4th" and "Anatomy 2nd Edition"), had his first professional article published in The Color of Fayetteville. Has had several poems published in magazines and anthologies including Array NC, Breadcrumbs Magazine, Simply Dela Jouere Fashion Magazine, and Bards NC Poetry Anthology as well as having a poem become part of the Civil Rights Memorial Center community poem headed by Kwame Alexander.
Keeping with his love of spoken word; Law has featured, hosted, and/or taken part in open mics, church functions, youth events, community events, art showcases, festivals, and exhibits. Law has also released one spoken word album with Real Life Muzik and has been part of His Push Team and 4Given as well as Let's Make It Happen Together and Toastmasters International (Fayetteville Bronco Chapter).
Law carries spoken word as more than a hobby but as a platform able to shift the atmosphere.
Visit thttps://linktr.ee/LawdaPoet to learn more about LAW and ways to support.
Jason (Jay) Webb known as Picket Fence is a veteran MC from Dayton; he has been involved in Hip Hop Culture for over 30 years. In the early 80's he started b-boying (break dancing). Later in the 80's he started doing small tags (graffiti) on abandoned buildings around the city. Along with tagging he found a passion for MC'ing and Dj'ing.
JayWebb joined his first rap group at age 12; J.A.M., with lifelong Friends Andre Taylor and Marcus McGhee, which led the MC to fall deeper in love with Hip Hop culture. The three once auditioned to be the opening act for the first rap group to successfully make it out of Dayton; “Doc Ease and The Ease Town Posse.”
Along with being an artist, Picket Fence is also the co host and Producer of the “F.l.y. (First Love Yourself) With Us Podcast” along with his wife “Ladi bounce:. The podcast focuses on self-care and maintaining positive mental health.
JayWebb has earned an Associate’s Degree in Video Production/and Sound Engineering as well as a Certification in Natural Health Consulting. Along with his studies of Metaphysics, he brings his passion of wellness to the “F.L.Y. With Us Podcast” to deliver simple ways to live better, satisfying lives.
Visit https://m.soundcloud.com/fly_with_us to learn more about Picket and ways to support.
Karen L Joyner-Washington is a native of Allendale, SC. She holds a bachelor's of science degree in Mathematics Education from Benedict College located in Columbia, SC. She is an educator, author, wife, and mother to an amazing tribe. She is a partner of Faith, Love, and Soul LLC as well as a spoken word artist and performs under the stage name Wintah Storm. She takes time to enjoy the simple things that life has to offer and continues to check items off of her ever growing bucket list.
Visit https://faithlovesoul.com/ to learn more about Wintah Storm and ways to support.
Monica Harrison, South Carolina native, now residing in Charlotte, NC, is a dynamic christian spoken word artist. Her gift allows her to blend life experiences with biblical applications to deliver poetry that encourages, inspires, and uplifts audiences. Not afraid to address touchy topics, her perspective and delivery will capture your attention and leave you better than you were before. She's been featured on several platforms across the east coast, a finalist in the Legacy Poetry Slam and also placed in the 2018 Engage Arts Showcase. Her motto is "one word can change your life".
Visit https://linktr.ee/MonicaHarrisonPoetry to learn more about Monica and ways to support.
Vanessa Harris poetically known as Most Elevated Deepness is a Mom/Singer/ Songwriter/Spoken Word poet/ and Retired Army Veteran from Augusta Ga. After serving her country proudly as a welder she retired due to a head injury sustained in combat. She hasn’t let her disability stop her from living in and on purpose! She is known throughout Augusta and surrounding areas for her song-infused style of Spoken Word Poetry. She has hosted numerous spoken word open mics in Augusta Ga. She has also volunteered with Literary non-profits in Augusta Georgia aiding her in her ambition to motivate children and adults to fall in love with words and to recognize the power those words possess. Vanessa Harris says that although she’s experienced a lot, her greatest achievement in life is being a mother. She states, “It’s the most difficult but equally rewarding mission that I’ve ever embarked upon.”
Follow Most Elevated on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about her and ways to support.
Since the age of eight, Kimberly has been searching for the answer to the question "Why me?," which is the name of one of her first recorded poems and her first book of poetry. Kimberly has loved writing and reading anything in literature since she was a little girl. She uses creative writing and expression in order to share her message of love for God, family, and community. The sum total of her work continues to reveal the answer to the question that has plagued her since her youth.
Kimberly Hines Winborne is an author, poet, singer, speaker, community builder, and connector. Some call her a serial entrepreneur. Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2002 when she graduated early from Dudley Cosmetology University and began working as a hairstylist. Fast forward several years, she is the CEO of Kimberly Winborne, LLC, a Finance and Communications firm, with a division of the company known as Coffee and Collaboration Media. She is the owner of Design Evolution Creations, project management and event planning and consulting firm. She is the Founder of Beauty 180, Inc., a nonprofit which supports women in transition by providing resources, both personally and financially. She is a minister who shares God's love through everything that she does and started The Praying SheEO Ministry in 2016, now a division of the nonprofit. She sits on the Board of the Lightener's YMCA Achievers, is a new member of the Board of A Cry For the Children, Inc., and holds several leadership positions in business resource communities, including her own, Visionary Networking Circle and The Collaboration Culture.
Since the age of eight, Kimberly has been searching for the answer to the question "Why me?" which is the name of one of her first recorded poems and her first book of poetry. Kimberly has loved writing and reading anything in literature since she was a little girl. She uses creative writing and expression in order to share her message of love for God, family, and community. The sum total of her work continues to reveal the answer to the question that has plagued her since her youth.
Visit https://www.kimberlywinbornellc.com/ to learn more about Kimberly and ways to support.
Netanyah discovered her love of poetry at the age of ten, first as a classroom lesson then discovering the many reflections of the craft through history by way of the Harlem Renaissance as well as music and the art of hip hop... It is often said that art imitates life, which has been the case for this writer after 20 years of journaling, writing, and living, Netanyah is still using the power of the word and lyrics to give voice to the alchemy of turning pain into passion...
Contact Netanyah to learn more about her and ways to support.
NakitaJay Poet began writing poetry around the age of 9. “A World In Tune” was her first poem written in grade school, which won first place. From this experience, her love of the Arts was born.
NakitaJay has been in several local poetry showcases, 2 plays produced by Black Poetry Theatre, and has traveled across the country performing at poetry events. Recent projects include a book of quotes entitled, “Life, & I Quote” coauthored with Church da Poet and the launch of Poetic Divas LLC, a poetry collaborative effort with Ms. Dalia22 that features a Podcast streamed live on FB and YouTube. As Poetic Divas, NakitaJay works to encourage the use of poetry and creativity as a form of healing, growth, and expression. The primary focus is on women to reinforce a positive self-image.
NakitaJay is the founder of GotYouInTheScope Photography, specializing in headshots, boudoir shoots, and other photography needs. To add to the list, NakitaJay is a Bedroom Kandi Independent consultant ( Company founded by Kandi Burruss) that specializes in adult intimate items, bath and body, and makeup. NakitaJay has completed training at NC State University as a Life Coach and is currently accepting clients.
Stay tuned as NakitaJay Poet is always working, visit her Linktree to learn more!
Tara Henry is a New Jersey native, who credits growing up in a supportive and creative family as the roots of her artistic inspirations. In addition to being a 1980s Music Lover, a self-proclaim Coffee Connoisseur, and Woosah Gardner, Tara is the visionary behind Woosah Moments!
Tara believes that creativity adds long-lasting benefits to daily living. Intentionally planning time to express and work through the process of creating without expectations has benefits supported by many professionals in the healthcare and mental healthcare sectors. Connecting with one’s inner core is fun, relaxing, naturally therapeutic, and worthy of a refreshing Woosah.
Equally, Tara has a desire to connect the ‘Creative’ to the community and connect the individual to their inner artist, while forging continuous partnerships. While a devoted Creative Wellness Advocate and Woosah Master, Tara finds her most fulfillment in spending time with her children, her husband of over 20 years, and frolicking through her Woosah Garden. Visit woosahmoments.com to find out more about Tara, her organization, and ways to support.
Wendy Jones is a poet and copy editor currently residing in Durham, North Carolina. She is the Slam Coordinator for the Bull City Slam Team based at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, North Carolina, the President of the Black on Black Rhyme Carolina chapter, assistant tournament director for Exit 36 Poetry Festival in Pompano Beach, Florida and most recently she has been appointed to the South Carolina arts council poetry fellowship panel.
She is an artistic curator, workshop facilitator, and event planner who has been an integral part of the planning and development of numerous Spoken Word projects and Slams along the southeast corridor over the past 15 years on a local and regional level, including Southern Fried Poetry Slam and Duo Slam. She has edited numerous collections of poetry and short storybooks for Southern-based authors and is looking to expand into publishing in 2023.
Contact Wendy to learn more about her and ways to support.
Allen Levi Simmons is a native of Summerville, SC, and a United States Marine Corps Combat Veteran who has deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, and Marjah, Afghanistan. After the war, Allen wrestled with PTSD from a Traumatic Brain Injury he sustained in Afghanistan from a Rocket Propelled Grenade blast. He battled depression and suicide as he forged his path of purpose and inspired hope in those around him.
He is a 2020 Graduate from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology. After graduating from UNCC Allen obtained a role with one of the leading technology companies in the world, IBM.
Allen published his first collection of poems titled "Can I Speak?" and his book has been supported by the Dean of Students at UNCC and Dubose Middle School. His book tells stories from the lives of characters who face different adversities. He has evoked empathy and has inspired his readers to reflect on their own unique stories.
As a dynamic Motivational Speaker and Coach, Allen has inspired Teachers, Elementary through College Students, Professionals, Churches, and Entrepreneurs. Visit allenlevisimmons.com to learn more about him and ways to support.
Jonathan Thompson aka Oracle is a spoken word artist, who believes that writing helps him to form his thoughts and abstract these ideas into a substance that is shareable… He says “it helps me solidify my beliefs; helps name and process grief. It is my number one creative outlet.
Oracle paints, make pottery, and restores old stuff, but when he’s able to speak and perform poetry publicly, he states “I feel most alive!” NC-based, 30-year-old Oracle is an up-and-coming voice to our nation and to the world.
Visit Oracle’s Linktree to learn more about him and ways to support. While there, check out all of his creative and amazing works.
Mecca Brown was born and raised in Queens NY. She comes from a large family and is one of nine. She has always been deeply into all forms of art. The way that she dresses is an expression of her creative spirit. She loves fashion, dying fabrics, and putting together unique looks. She relocated to North Carolina when she was a young woman and studied Culinary Arts in Atlanta, GA. Mecca has a love for sketching painting, basking in the sun when the weather is cool and not so hot. She loves the rain and the smell of it. Equally, she loves plants and nature and the vibes they give off. Other interests include painting, dancing, cooking, interior design, and creating beautiful spaces…
Mecca started writing poetry when she was 11 years old. 2Pac was the very poet that she fell in love with. “The rose that grew from concrete” written by 2pac is what further inspired her to continue writing poetry on her own. Poetry has always been a way for Mecca to sort her feelings and release certain energies from her spirit. Poetry has always been a form of therapy for Mecca…. She shares a lot of her content on Instagram. Her handle is @poetically_mecca.
Mandie with an I.e
The Me I was always meant to be
Poetry in motion Full of life, love, and laughter
I.e (For example)
I was once somebody’s pet rock
Until tumbling through hardships revealed the gem
bringing out colors bold and beautiful
Apathy turned to creativity
I am Mandie with an I.e.
I.e. (in other words)
Carefree - A dandelion gone to seed
Floating on the breeze for you to wish upon
Expressive - A smile reflected in your eyes
Sparkling with life and a hint of mischief
Radiant - The warmth of a fire on a cold day
Glowing for the world to see
I am Mandie with an I.e
A deck of tarot cards
Infinite possibilities in the interpretation
I am Mandie with an i.e.
A map crumpled and creased
All Routes leading to destinations of living to the fullest
I am Mandie with an i.e.
A book still being written
Paper and pen in hand
You will remember me
I am...
Mandie with an ie *
While I write and perform poetry myself, my real passion is working with students in guiding them in find their voice and use it in their own poetry projects. I am available to share not only my strategies with encouraging student writing, but also tips and tricks for starting an open mic in the classroom, creating a poetry anthology written by students, and motivating students on their own poetry journey. Want to know more? You can reach me at mandiewithanie@gmail.com.
Lemoi Desina is a father, artist, minister, and entrepreneur. He has a wide range of different interests in marketplaces he promotes like; rap, spoken word/poetry, acting, photography, lectures, and promotions along with a hand full of other skills.
Lemoi Desina is also the founder of The Kool Spot podcast, which puts a spotlight on locals while educating the listeners on abstract topics along with his Co-Host Sherita “Free” Freeman. Broadcasting the last Saturday of each month at 12:00 Noon EST. He has also recently launched The ManZone (Biblical Life Application Group) which is a safe spacemen can have hard discussions around Biblical issues while keeping Apologetics at the center of each topic every Saturday morning from 9:00 am - 11:00 am.
Journey with Lemoi Desina by connecting with him on social media and the website listed below.
Facebook:
Lemoi Desina
https://www.facebook.com/lemoi.desina
The Kool Spot Website
Facebook:
The Kool Spot
https://www.facebook.com/thekoolspotnc/
Facebook:
ASTP+Marketing.
https://www.facebook.com/ASTPMarketing/
Facebook:
The ManZone (Biblical Life Application Group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/550522026535319/
Join The ManZone on Meetups
https://meetu.ps/c/4XLlH/X35b5/a
Email Lemoi Desina.
Nike Binger Marshall was born in Brooklyn, NY. She enjoys watching, and often draws inspiration for her writing from documentaries and loves sharing little-known black history facts on her social media pages. After a long break from writing, she revisited her passion for writing in 2004 and has been writing ever since. Nike has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Her book of poetry, “Persistence of Vision,” was published in 2009. She is currently working
on her first novel and maintains a blog, Nike Writes, where she shares short stories, poems, and other thoughts. She also runs The Family Reading Room on Facebook, where she shares books she read or is interested in reading, and encourages group members to do the same. She is one of the winners of the 2008 Delaware Art Museum’s Eye/I Witness Gordon Parks contest, and co-host of the Movies That Move We podcast on Facebook and YouTube. Nike is a mother and grandmother and currently lives in Delaware.
Tai Caldwell, AKA Tai Connects, is a NC Certified Peer Support Specialist at Aspire Counseling Group, Community Outreach Facilitator for StandUp SpeakOut of NC, and survivor of childhood trauma. She is passionate about applying her training and lived experience to empower individuals who desire transformative growth in their personal and professional lives.
Tai enjoys working with people, but she especially loves working with teens. She has over fifteen years of experience working directly with youth and teens via after-school programs, conferences, workshop and group facilitation, residential counseling, and student ministry. Tai incorporates spoken word and performing arts in her work with teens as a means to teach, empower and guide youth in various stages of their lives."
Shatara Liora is an African American poet, writer, and licensed therapist by trade. Born in Hawaii, she also grew up in Greece, Spain, and Iceland before coming back to the US. She has been published in Berkeley Poetry Review, Rigorous Literary Magazine, Black Girl In Om and has been featured in Nailed Magazine. She has served as poetry editor for Qu Literary Magazine and has two indie poetry collections "East Of A Cold Red Sun" and "Love's Third Eye" . In her spare time, she enjoys art galleries, museums, travel, and all things vintage.
Visit https://shataraliora.com/ to learn more and ways to support.
Sabrina
is Determined, Loyal and Open-Minded
a lover of the art-culture, calligraphy, nature and travel
who loves to take care of people and help them thrive
who wants more supportive diverse communities
who feels compassion and hope for this world
who gives advice, care, and time whoever receives
who fears having lack of self-awareness
who feels compassion but not taken foregranted
who would like to see Dubai, the Taj Mahal
and other cultural scenic routes in the US
born in Texas, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina
Ayitevie-Jenkins!
Junious 'Jay' Ward is a poet and teaching artist from Charlotte, NC. He is a National Slam champion (2018), an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019), and the author of Sing Me A Lesser Wound (Bull City Press, 2020) and Composition (forthcoming from Button Poetry, 2022). Jay currently serves as a Program Director for BreatheInk, where he facilitates writing and performance workshops and coaches youth poets attending Brave New Voices each year. He serves as vice-chair for the board of The Watering Hole, a non-profit organization that aims to nurture writers of color in the Southern tradition. He also serves on several curatorial committees related to the arts in Charlotte. He has attended Breadloaf Writer's Conference, Callaloo, The Watering Hole and Tin House Winter Workshop. His work can be found in Crabfat Magazine, Lackadaisy Lit Mag, Four Way Review, Diode Poetry Journal, and on Button Poetry.
Deborah A. Williams, also known as Queen Prophet Sage, uses her poetic gifts to journey with audiences through Spiritual Formation by addressing common pains, questions of life, taboo topics, and the ambiguities of faith and God. She ministers as a poet, a playwright, and an author. Through her performances, writings, and ministry, Deb prayerfully accepts James H. Cone's challenge to black civil rights leaders "to liberate Christianity." One of her most celebrated accomplishments is the 2019 release of her first book, Peace Treaty with Myself: A Book of Poetic Meditations. Purchase Here
Deb holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications from North Carolina Central University (1993) and an MBA from Phoenix (2003). Duke Divinity School conferred a Master of Divinity to me in 2019. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Dubuque and will be conferred with a Master of Management/Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Management on April 30, 2022.
As a career professional, Deb is a project coordinator, supporting programmatic opportunities within Duke University, including promoting the joy of learning as a Teaching Assistant and Academic Advisor. As a community advocate serving Durham County's Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, Peace Hill at Avila, and StandUp SpeakOut of North Carolina, she partners with others for restorative ways of engaging those who experience justice involvement. And still, as a DEI practitioner, with other community leaders, she holds workshops and discussions on leadership, organizational belonging, onboarding, and engagement practices. Deb takes joy in leading group conversations that strengthen church pastors and non-profit agency leaders with human resource training, onboarding and exit strategies, focus groups, crucial conversations, career planning, conflict management, prayer circles, and bible studies. Deb is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Prathap is one of the more well-known creative leaders in the Indian advertising industry. He has a credible and proven experience of almost 35 years, and has led large multinational agencies including Grey Global and Cheil Worldwide - nationally, regionally, and even globally.
His work includes Incredible India ( Tourism ), India Shining ( NDA Govt.), Next is What for Samsung Mobiles, Be You for Jabong, plus over 200 other brands. Essentially consumer-facing work. Between 2011 and 2012, he worked with iYogi, a global remote tech services company as their Chief Creative Officer.
Post this assignment, he set up Bang In The Middle along with Naresh Gupta, a completely new kind of agency. He calls it a mutant. One that keeps an idea at the core, interprets and adapts it across all media platforms including traditional and new age media.
The agency now handles over 25 clients including Pearson, Dolby, Tata AIA, Tata AIG, PhonePe, Vivo Mobiles, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd – HCCB, Vaayu Aviation, iQOO Mobiles, Colorbar Cosmetics, etc.
He has been on the Cannes Lions Jury, won several national and international creative awards, and won the only Euro Effie ever won by Asia Pacific for creative work done for Incredible India.
Poetry is something that's a natural extension of his writing repertoire, and along with writing articles on advertising, industry trends, and social matters, he has been writing both long format and short format poetry since the 90s.
On July 4, 2015, he started publishing a daily verse/poem/quip on FB called #boredpoetry. He publishes them on his page Beyond Layouts at exactly 6:15 am every day, and for almost 7 years, this is something that he's been doing without fail.
Bugsy Calhoun born and raised in Brooklyn New York currently resides Columbia South Carolina member of the unusual suspects and black on black rhyme creator of Soul sista slam Co host of the J.A.M. Session open mic at the House of Hathor
Celestine Shepard Hinnant, "CESHEP", was born and reared in Garner, North Carolina and is one of seven children born to the late Verna Mae & Louis Lee Shepard. For thirty years she worked in local government and wrote her first book, "The Awakened Pen - Poetic Expressions from the Heart" upon her retirement in 2013. She believes poetry is a great way to capture life's events and loves creating them for almost any occasion. In addition to The Awakened Pen, three of her poems were selected by the Franklin County Arts Council Writers Guild for publication in County Lines: A Literary Journal 2015 Issue Vol. 2.
Jackie Dove-Miller is a graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (BA) and NC State University (MA). She is a retired English teacher, a poet, and a spoken-word artist. She has produced a sample CD of inspirational spoken-word poetry (A Spoken-Word For a Woman Who Can)and one poetry CD (Speaking to the Woman Within). Both focus on women's issues that are dear to her heart. She sees her poetry as a ministry meant to help women see themselves as capable of overcoming life's obstacles. She has been published in Carolina Country, Gravity Hill Literary Magazine, County Lines: A Literary Journal, and local newspapers and arts magazines. She has recently begun facilitating workshops and seminars related to empowering women. Living in the Raleigh area with her husband, Allen, Jackie loves spending time reading, writing, and photography. She was named one of two "Artists of the Year" in 2013 for Franklin County, NC. She has three published books of poetry, Some Things I Just Know: Poems About Life-Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Change and Possibilities: Poems That Inspire, and Love Moves Like a Wave: Poems on the Ups and Downs of Love.
CeL Layne is an artist, poet, and writer born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He lived in Durham and Raleigh (NC), Hopewell and Petersburg (VA) before moving back to Lynchburg in 2013.
He started creating at the age of 5 as therapy to sort through the damage of losing his father so early in life.
He is proficient in many forms of creation including drawing, music production, graphics, airbrushing, glass etching, painting, sculpting, jewelry creation, poetry, creative writing, and digital art.
He is a dedicated father of 3 that decided to break the cycle of generational pain of his bloodline through his writing and art.
Curtis L. Hill Jr., also known as s.P. The Writer (s.P. = silent poet) in poetry circles, is a resident of Raleigh, NC by way of Maysville, North Carolina. As a silent poet, s.P. created the umbrella poetry entertainment company, S DOT P DOT PRODUCTIONS, that houses 3 productions including Body Of Work (erotic), In Other Words, and the powerhouse, one of a kind, flagship production Inkspired.
Understanding the power of the spoken word, s.P.'s debut show, Inkspired, harnessed the talents of other notable artist to bring forth his work in a lavish setting. There was a lot of doubt and criticism surrounding the idea of Inkspired at first, because of the unfamiliar nature of poets performing someone else’s poetry, but many of those side conversations have quieted because it’s the enormous and rapid success. In the 5th installment of Inkspired (1st since the lock down) Inkspired saw 500 people in attendance at the Raleigh Convention Center Ballroom! Since this November 2021 production, many more people and companies have taken notice in a huge way.
Love Is A Parable- an initiative and movement that later became an organization within itself. Love is A Parable is a DBA and subsidiary of Altar and Dwelling Place, Inc. We are a charitable and an educational 501c3 organization, who provides character, social, and leadership development to those who desire value-based education, reflective storytelling, and the promotion of personal acceptance through a reflective thinking approach and sacred-box theory.
