Creating A Sense of Place | The Journey of The Poet
Passionate Arts Admin Intern For What's Up Downtown Flint (2020-2022)
Served as Arts Administration Intern for the WhatsUpDowntown-Flint placemaking initiative in Flint, MI, in 2020. Responsibilities included networking with local businesses, assisting with event planning, educating residents about the impact of placemaking, and developing the website for WhatsUpDowntown-Flint.
Significant Contributions:
- Spearheaded the Pop-Up Poetry project with a collective of local poets.
- Organized and activated green space for a Black-owned business pop-up market.
- Served on the planning board for Carriagetown Porchfest (2021)
Pop-Up Poetry Curator
- Branching off from internships and freelance administrative assistance, I aimed to contribute to Flint Placemaking by leading the Pop-Up Poetry initiative forward. I led and managed the Poet for Hire (Pop-Up Poetry) events in Flint.
- Flint Porchfest Neighborhood Summer Series (2021-2022)
- Carriage Town Neighborhood (2020-2022)
- In The Beginning-First Ward Porch Fest (Flint Northside, 2021)
- Sharp Manor (2021)
- Black Buckham Juneteenth Festival (2021)
- F.R.O.G Porchfest on Canniff Street (Flint Northside, 2021-2022)
- Flint Porchfest Neighborhood Summer Series (2021-2022)
Placemaker Poet | Placemaking Week in Flint: The Unconference (Fall 2021)
Performed the “Notorious Flint Poem” in September 2021 at the PlacemakingWeekFlint conference, organized by PlacemakingUS, PlacemakingX, and WhatsUpDowntown-Flint. The event brought many leaders to the Midwest to discuss community development, creative placemaking, and urban design.
Inspired by my favorite artist, Notorious B.I.G., the poem focused on reclaiming the Flint narrative and spotlighting key community members and creative placemaking activations.
Youth Placemaking with Latinx Leadership Academy (Summer 2022)
Expanding my placemaking skills and youth development efforts, I dedicated myself to mentoring and inspiring youth in a Latinx leadership program. I led and supervised teens ( ages 14-17) in an art community service project to re-envision a blighted house on Flint's East Side.
Crowdfunding to Portland, OR | Placemaking US Mastery Program (Summer 2022)
Portland, Oregon has unique foundation and twist in placemaking. A better quality of life can be achieved through community collaboration and creative strategies. I Invested in expanding my knowledge in the placemaking by attending various professional development opportunities. Faced the challenge of launching crowdfund Fundraiser and raising $3,000 ($2,830 + Supportive Donors) in three weeks, utilizing targeted social media marketing, social media engagement, and email marketing.
Community Programming at Totem Books
I began hosting open mic nights for poets and writers at Totem Books in Flint, Michigan, creating a sense of community and making poetry a communal space.
The Social Life & PlacemakingX Placemaking Training | PlacemakingUS Jane Jacobs Placemaking Weekend (Spring 2023)
With an act of faith, I attended a training program in NYC to network and expand my knowledge with amazing national leaders in placemaking. I learned directly from The Social Life Project, PlacemakingX, & PlacemakingUS Network.
The Heart of the City | Campus Martius Park Detroit,MI (Summer 2023)
As a pioneer in the intersection of poetry and placemaking, I pursued a path of connecting these two disciplines. I composed a piece about Campus Martius Park in Detroit, MI, reflecting on nostalgic moments there and their impact on me. Through this, I realized that translating the identity of public spaces into narrative not only empowers communities but also fosters a sense of belonging and pride. My work was featured in the Social Life Project article “Campus Martius: The Catalyst for the Transformation of Downtown Detroit.”
This poem is my personal homecoming.
The Crim-Foundation Neighborhood Impact | Better Block Flint (Fall 2023)
Placemaking Strategist
- Consulting directly with Director of the Crim-Fitness Foundation Neighborhood Impact provided expertise in marketing, creative direction, place-based storytelling, placemaking strategies for the Better Block Flint series, aligning with the 2013 Imagine Flint sustainability mission.
- Served as Block Captain for Better Block Team in Core Team for Better Block Flint Event September 2023
- Played a key role in developing a unified storytelling strategy that spans across different marketing campaigns and initiatives, contributing to the overall success of the project.
I Love Flint Farmers Market - Storytelling In Public Space (Fall 2023)
“I love the Farmers Market…"
Storytelling Pop-up
The farmer's market holds a special significance for me, as it provides a platform to showcase people's stories and their connection to the place they visit regularly. This is where the art of placemaking as a poet comes into play. It fosters a sense of belonging and attachment among the community.
Finding my Faith in Japan | Astray Writing Program in Tokyo, Japan
I participated in a one-month writing workshop in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Astray Program (June-July). The program focused on sustainable travel, media literacy, and community building, aiming to empower aspiring freelancers by providing them with the confidence, skills, and experience necessary to pitch and publish their writing. I embarked on a personal inner discovery and deepened my connection to Christ. This experience transformed me to use grace to flourish.
"A good place is defined by the stories that surround it". - Creating a Sense Of Place
