About Me

My background

A poet who transforms the heart of places, one poem at a time.

My name is Ashley McIntosh. I am a poet born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and I found my calling in Flint, MI, to storytelling and community building.

Throughout my professional experiences, I discovered the power of place-based storytelling and its impact on our sense of self within built environments. Participating in participatory placemaking/design architect initiatives has given me a comprehensive understanding of how cities, communities, and cultural traditions shape our identity and sense of belonging.

I took a trip to Japan and began to rewrite the narrative of Japanese Christianity; I became a travel journalist who spread the gospel by sharing digital stories.

We need stories to bridge the gap between generations and empower the world for the next.

I like my cool (typer-writer)!

Professional Experience

Poet | PoetrytoldbyanEmpress

June 2020-Present

Performed Poetry across Genesee County, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Ingham County, Michigan Area.
Host Monthly Open Mic Shows Poets and Writers Night at Totem Books
The primary curator of Pop-Up Poetry

Performance History

Poetry Instructor | Youth Arts Unlocked

Oct 2022-Jan 2024

Youth Arts: UNLOCKED, bringing artists and arts workshops to justice-involved youth in Flint and Genesee County & HerStory: UNLOCKED, addressing the unmet needs of incarcerated girls
Served as Poetry Instructor, Youth Arts UNLOCKED: HerStory: UNLOCKED, focusing on building confidence and enhancing public speaking skills for girls aged 14-17.

Program Coordinator | University of Michigan-Health Adolescence Health Initiative

Sep 2022 - Oct 2023

The Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) at the University of Michigan Health's Community Health Services aims to enhance adolescent health and well-being through practice improvement, education, research, and community engagement.

Key collaborator & Contributor with Los Angeles Children's Hospital on the Justice for School Spark project, focused on creating a Racial Justice Curriculum Toolkit for educational systems, emphasizing racial equity and addressing the impact of discrimination on adolescent health.
Spearheaded DEI strategies to serve underserved communities in Metro-Detroit and Washtenaw County, leading the development of a Youth Organization Data-Based System and instructing AHI team members on recruitment techniques in disinvested areas through community engagement.
Led recruitment efforts for the Teen Advisory Board Season with DEI strategies, resulting in a significant increase in program applications from 30 to 110 within a year through intentional targeted marketing and community engagement.

Creating a Sense of Place - Place-based Storytelling

See the Journey

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice/ Sociology

Minor Computer Science

University of Michigan-Flint

Skills

Public Speaking

Facilitating + Evaluation

Teaching Poetry

Creativity

Storytelling

Resource Creation

Copywriting

Event Planning

Social media Marketing

Web Development