Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Despite having a love for writing poetry and fiction since sixth grade, my dream was to become editor-in-chief of Essence magazine due to my experience with journalism in high school. Nevertheless, I would end up spending 20 years in education. As a poet in college, I evolved into a spoken word artist and began performing at numerous events and venues starting in 2003. In 2021, I was able to permanently ink empowerment in two self-published poetry anthologies.

As of today, I have self-published four books—three poetry anthologies and one children’s book—with more on the way very soon. During my twenty-year career, I primarily taught middle-level English/Language Arts, but I also spent five years teaching AVID, a college and career preparedness course. This allowed me to help students strengthen a variety of skills, including writing and public speaking.

Throughout my teaching career, I participated in multiple after-school tutoring programs and led writing camps. I have facilitated numerous writing workshops for students, summer camps, and guest speaking engagements. Additionally, I have led multiple professional development workshops on topics such as best practices in writing. I have also led writers’ workshops with organizations like Aware SC and Youth Corps.

Despite participating in numerous school, district, state, and national-level educational conferences, the most impactful professional development experience was my participation in the Midlands Writing Project—an intensive writing course through USC that propelled me into becoming a better writer and teacher.

Artist Statement

I believe I have been gifted with an ability meant to empower, inspire, and challenge people to recognize how awesome they are while encouraging positive change. Many people are constantly bombarded with negative images, and I believe words carry the power to uproot those misinterpretations of themselves. I want them to see the beauty in who they truly are.

As a result, I am very intentional about the pieces I share with my audiences. My topics range from women’s empowerment, self-love, and the beauty and dysfunction of family, to many others. Through my writing, I also aim to teach about my beautiful and enriching history. I am always seeking either to highlight the beauty of our world or to expose its darkness so we can work to eradicate it. That change can begin with a conversation sparked by my work and lead to shifts in behavior—or, if necessary, even legislation.

One of my most powerful spoken word pieces is “Avoiding the Label.” It explores the societal, familial, and cultural pressures many women face to get married. Women often share that they feel validated in not settling for marriage after hearing this piece, which reveals how we sometimes give in to expectations. One young woman even cried in my arms, overwhelmed by the weight of being ostracized for being single. She felt relieved that someone understood and reassured by the confirmation that she was right to wait.

I have performed for diverse audiences of all ages in spaces such as churches, First Thursdays on Main in Columbia, SC, empowerment brunches, school promotion programs, back-to-school bashes, and more.

As a former teacher, I also love helping writers find their voice and cultivate their talents through writers’ workshops. I am always amazed at how many people underestimate the power of their words or their talent. That’s why I believe my workshops can plant the seed they need to feel empowered to uplift the world through their own words.

When you think about the power of words, they’ve changed the world through books, songs, television series, films, and more. We need to encourage more people to harness those spaces with their creative genius—a gift meant to share light.

I have led a variety of writing workshops for participants ranging from students as young as five or six to adults who are aspiring writers in professions such as songwriting, poetry, and more. One of my favorite activities is Picture This, which uses artwork as a writing prompt.

After performing a motivational poem for a group of young girls at an empowerment camp called Beauty You Are, I had the girls write a similar type of poem about themselves. They were given the option to use the “I Am” poem format or a free-verse structure to uplift themselves. They also performed their poems in front of their peers to practice public speaking skills.

As a former ELA teacher,I am able to engage writers and help develop their skills. Examples of those approaches in my sample lessons.