my husband told me as a child he would draw action figures on paper and cut
draw action figures on paper and cut
draw action figures on paper and cut them out to play with because when you
them out to play with because when you
them out to play with because when you grow up without innovation becomes her
grow up without innovation becomes her
grow up without innovation becomes her only option I’d like to share with you
only option I’d like to share with you
only option I’d like to share with you today how I use poetry to help people in
today how I use poetry to help people in
today how I use poetry to help people in need for innovative purposes when I was
need for innovative purposes when I was
need for innovative purposes when I was in elementary school I used to go every
in elementary school I used to go every
in elementary school I used to go every other month with my mom to her school in
other month with my mom to her school in
other month with my mom to her school in Miami it was in an area called pork and
Miami it was in an area called pork and
Miami it was in an area called pork and beans neighborhood it was a really rough
beans neighborhood it was a really rough
beans neighborhood it was a really rough area where a lot of youth they were
area where a lot of youth they were
area where a lot of youth they were impoverished they were in need and they
impoverished they were in need and they
impoverished they were in need and they would even jump house-to-house sometimes
would even jump house-to-house sometimes
would even jump house-to-house sometimes having to share each other’s underwear
having to share each other’s underwear
having to share each other’s underwear because they didn’t have a stable place
because they didn’t have a stable place
because they didn’t have a stable place to stay being exposed to these kind of
to stay being exposed to these kind of
to stay being exposed to these kind of kids made my heart open and vulnerable
kids made my heart open and vulnerable
kids made my heart open and vulnerable and longing wanting to give back to them
and longing wanting to give back to them
and longing wanting to give back to them I grew older I fell in love with the
I grew older I fell in love with the
I grew older I fell in love with the arts specifically poetry and spoken word
arts specifically poetry and spoken word
arts specifically poetry and spoken word and I used to write about a lot of
and I used to write about a lot of
and I used to write about a lot of different issues
different issues
different issues it wasn’t until high school where I was
it wasn’t until high school where I was
it wasn’t until high school where I was going through a really difficult time
going through a really difficult time
going through a really difficult time which many of you may have experienced
which many of you may have experienced
which many of you may have experienced where my father left out of my life he
where my father left out of my life he
where my father left out of my life he disowned me and I was going through a
disowned me and I was going through a
disowned me and I was going through a very tragic moment I reached out to
very tragic moment I reached out to
very tragic moment I reached out to spoken word as well as God and I found
spoken word as well as God and I found
spoken word as well as God and I found my voice and I even found a local
my voice and I even found a local
my voice and I even found a local nonprofit organization called right side
nonprofit organization called right side
nonprofit organization called right side poets in Fort Lauderdale Florida and we
poets in Fort Lauderdale Florida and we
poets in Fort Lauderdale Florida and we would actually go every weekend instead
would actually go every weekend instead
would actually go every weekend instead of going to parties and other things
of going to parties and other things
of going to parties and other things that a lot of kids spend time doing we
that a lot of kids spend time doing we
that a lot of kids spend time doing we would go and we would speak we would
would go and we would speak we would
would go and we would speak we would have a voice and we would perform poetry
have a voice and we would perform poetry
have a voice and we would perform poetry and we would even perform to get into an
and we would even perform to get into an
and we would even perform to get into an international competition to slam for
international competition to slam for
international competition to slam for slam poetry but not only that as I grew
slam poetry but not only that as I grew
slam poetry but not only that as I grew with my spoken word I found
with my spoken word I found
with my spoken word I found opportunities where my leader Ray
opportunities where my leader Ray
opportunities where my leader Ray Dominguez he actually allowed me to have
Dominguez he actually allowed me to have
Dominguez he actually allowed me to have an opportunity to facilitate poetry
an opportunity to facilitate poetry
an opportunity to facilitate poetry workshops in schools in art institutes
workshops in schools in art institutes
workshops in schools in art institutes and in juvenile detention centers and I
and in juvenile detention centers and I
and in juvenile detention centers and I thought at that moment man one day I
thought at that moment man one day I
thought at that moment man one day I would love to do the same and be that
would love to do the same and be that
would love to do the same and be that leader like Ray driving around the youth
leader like Ray driving around the youth
leader like Ray driving around the youth to take them to do it and so through
to take them to do it and so through
to take them to do it and so through time I continued and my last year of
time I continued and my last year of
time I continued and my last year of college I was tasked with an opportunity
college I was tasked with an opportunity
college I was tasked with an opportunity to start a program
to start a program
to start a program facility of my choice of course I wanted
facility of my choice of course I wanted
facility of my choice of course I wanted to do poetry because that’s what I do
to do poetry because that’s what I do
to do poetry because that’s what I do but I didn’t know where I wanted to
but I didn’t know where I wanted to
but I didn’t know where I wanted to facilitate the program at I thought
facilitate the program at I thought
facilitate the program at I thought about foster homes
about foster homes
about foster homes I thought about schools I thought about
I thought about schools I thought about
I thought about schools I thought about juvenile detention centers but it had
juvenile detention centers but it had
juvenile detention centers but it had not yet crossed my mind to work with the
not yet crossed my mind to work with the
not yet crossed my mind to work with the homeless demographic until I encountered
homeless demographic until I encountered
homeless demographic until I encountered two inspirational men when I moved to
two inspirational men when I moved to
two inspirational men when I moved to Orlando Florida about four years ago I
Orlando Florida about four years ago I
Orlando Florida about four years ago I used to walk around a lot to Lake Eola
used to walk around a lot to Lake Eola
used to walk around a lot to Lake Eola area and get inspiration interact and
area and get inspiration interact and
area and get inspiration interact and write and I actually met two
write and I actually met two
write and I actually met two inspirational men both homeless the
inspirational men both homeless the
inspirational men both homeless the first man he never asked you for
first man he never asked you for
first man he never asked you for anything he wouldn’t ask you for food he
anything he wouldn’t ask you for food he
anything he wouldn’t ask you for food he wouldn’t ask you for water or money all
wouldn’t ask you for water or money all
wouldn’t ask you for water or money all he would do is say you have a pencil do
he would do is say you have a pencil do
he would do is say you have a pencil do you have a pen because he wanted to
you have a pen because he wanted to
you have a pen because he wanted to create and I thought that was
create and I thought that was
create and I thought that was interesting the other man that I met
interesting the other man that I met
interesting the other man that I met homeless as well he actually was a poet
homeless as well he actually was a poet
homeless as well he actually was a poet like me and so he put his poem in a
like me and so he put his poem in a
like me and so he put his poem in a frame and he offered it soon me for
frame and he offered it soon me for
frame and he offered it soon me for income and said hey would you like to
income and said hey would you like to
income and said hey would you like to buy my poem and I realized at that
buy my poem and I realized at that
buy my poem and I realized at that moment that it was that type of
moment that it was that type of
moment that it was that type of innovation that is so necessary and
innovation that is so necessary and
innovation that is so necessary and cutting-edge to make a difference with
cutting-edge to make a difference with
cutting-edge to make a difference with this type of demographic so I said of
this type of demographic so I said of
this type of demographic so I said of course I’m gonna work with the homeless
course I’m gonna work with the homeless
course I’m gonna work with the homeless and so I was so that I developed the
and so I was so that I developed the
and so I was so that I developed the program called speak out before I
program called speak out before I
program called speak out before I started my nonprofit at the Coalition
started my nonprofit at the Coalition
started my nonprofit at the Coalition for the homeless in downtown Orlando we
for the homeless in downtown Orlando we
for the homeless in downtown Orlando we got a chance to work with a lot of men
got a chance to work with a lot of men
got a chance to work with a lot of men and women who were in and out of prison
and women who were in and out of prison
and women who were in and out of prison as well as being homeless and we had a
as well as being homeless and we had a
as well as being homeless and we had a chance to actually publish their work in
chance to actually publish their work in
chance to actually publish their work in an anthology called pain and God where
an anthology called pain and God where
an anthology called pain and God where they saw themselves actually on paper
they saw themselves actually on paper
they saw themselves actually on paper and they felt special and important and
and they felt special and important and
and they felt special and important and a lot of times when you think about the
a lot of times when you think about the
a lot of times when you think about the homeless demographic you think about
homeless demographic you think about
homeless demographic you think about what are the things that they need okay
what are the things that they need okay
what are the things that they need okay they need food they need water they need
they need food they need water they need
they need food they need water they need shelter but what you don’t think about
shelter but what you don’t think about
shelter but what you don’t think about is a creative outlet is an opportunity
is a creative outlet is an opportunity
is a creative outlet is an opportunity to be heard to just be acknowledged as a
to be heard to just be acknowledged as a
to be heard to just be acknowledged as a person yes I’m living through a
person yes I’m living through a
person yes I’m living through a situation but let’s not forget I’m a
situation but let’s not forget I’m a
situation but let’s not forget I’m a person and I need to process this and so
person and I need to process this and so
person and I need to process this and so poetry and spoken word is an opportunity
poetry and spoken word is an opportunity
poetry and spoken word is an opportunity for them to do that there is a
for them to do that there is a
for them to do that there is a psychologist by the name of Abraham
psychologist by the name of Abraham
psychologist by the name of Abraham Maslow and he actually developed a
Maslow and he actually developed a
Maslow and he actually developed a five-tier model of basic human means
five-tier model of basic human means
five-tier model of basic human means it’s grouped into three categories basic
it’s grouped into three categories basic
it’s grouped into three categories basic psychological and self-fulfillment
psychological and self-fulfillment
psychological and self-fulfillment self-fulfillment is actually the top
self-fulfillment is actually the top
self-fulfillment is actually the top need which means that as humans a part
need which means that as humans a part
need which means that as humans a part of our needs is not only to have all of
of our needs is not only to have all of
of our needs is not only to have all of those things that we think of our
those things that we think of our
those things that we think of our automatic but also to feel creative to
automatic but also to feel creative to
automatic but also to feel creative to filfil fold and everything that we do is
filfil fold and everything that we do is
filfil fold and everything that we do is supposed to make us feel whole to make
supposed to make us feel whole to make
supposed to make us feel whole to make us feel like we have a purpose that
us feel like we have a purpose that
us feel like we have a purpose that we’re not just waking up every day and
we’re not just waking up every day and
we’re not just waking up every day and doing things because it’s a routine no
doing things because it’s a routine no
doing things because it’s a routine no but because something is driving us to
but because something is driving us to
but because something is driving us to do that and so I’m I was driven to start
do that and so I’m I was driven to start
do that and so I’m I was driven to start a nonprofit organization and I was
a nonprofit organization and I was
a nonprofit organization and I was driven to start exodus united a way out
driven to start exodus united a way out
driven to start exodus united a way out together to help youth because I wanted
together to help youth because I wanted
together to help youth because I wanted to continue to work with the at-risk
to continue to work with the at-risk
to continue to work with the at-risk community but I wanted to start young I
community but I wanted to start young I
community but I wanted to start young I wanted to start with a population that I
wanted to start with a population that I
wanted to start with a population that I can help mold and so I continued to work
can help mold and so I continued to work
can help mold and so I continued to work with the homeless demographic I am now
with the homeless demographic I am now
with the homeless demographic I am now facilitating workshops poetry and
facilitating workshops poetry and
facilitating workshops poetry and pedagogy workshops at the Covenant house
pedagogy workshops at the Covenant house
pedagogy workshops at the Covenant house among other facilities which is a
among other facilities which is a
among other facilities which is a homeless youth shelter in Orlando and we
homeless youth shelter in Orlando and we
homeless youth shelter in Orlando and we actually go and we speak to these young
actually go and we speak to these young
actually go and we speak to these young people and we have a chance to work with
people and we have a chance to work with
people and we have a chance to work with them and have them write poetry and I
them and have them write poetry and I
them and have them write poetry and I realize that every time we’re doing this
realize that every time we’re doing this
realize that every time we’re doing this and every time we have an opportunity to
and every time we have an opportunity to
and every time we have an opportunity to work with them they are reaching their
work with them they are reaching their
work with them they are reaching their self fulfillment we received a grant a
self fulfillment we received a grant a
self fulfillment we received a grant a sponsorship and we got into a studio we
sponsorship and we got into a studio we
sponsorship and we got into a studio we took a whole bunch of youth to a
took a whole bunch of youth to a
took a whole bunch of youth to a recording studio and they were in the
recording studio and they were in the
recording studio and they were in the booth recording they were doing their
booth recording they were doing their
booth recording they were doing their recording their poetry their raps their
recording their poetry their raps their
recording their poetry their raps their songs and to see them feel inspired to
songs and to see them feel inspired to
songs and to see them feel inspired to see their eyes light up and their faces
see their eyes light up and their faces
see their eyes light up and their faces fill alive is something that I know is a
fill alive is something that I know is a
fill alive is something that I know is a feeling they have not felt in a long
feeling they have not felt in a long
feeling they have not felt in a long time and it’s not that we’re giving them
time and it’s not that we’re giving them
time and it’s not that we’re giving them food or water or anything that they need
food or water or anything that they need
food or water or anything that they need on a daily living but it’s something
on a daily living but it’s something
on a daily living but it’s something different something to make them feel
different something to make them feel
different something to make them feel like I should wake up tomorrow I have
like I should wake up tomorrow I have
like I should wake up tomorrow I have purpose because I have a voice and I
purpose because I have a voice and I
purpose because I have a voice and I matter and yes I’m homeless and people
matter and yes I’m homeless and people
matter and yes I’m homeless and people walk past me but I am still someone and
walk past me but I am still someone and
walk past me but I am still someone and I will be someone and so this
I will be someone and so this
I will be someone and so this demographic has definitely made a huge
demographic has definitely made a huge
demographic has definitely made a huge impact on me and I hope the same for you
impact on me and I hope the same for you
impact on me and I hope the same for you and what I would like to tell you is
and what I would like to tell you is
and what I would like to tell you is that many times you have to think about
that many times you have to think about
that many times you have to think about the people around you you have to
the people around you you have to
the people around you you have to realize that sometimes it’s not just one
realize that sometimes it’s not just one
realize that sometimes it’s not just one thing they’re going through but many
thing they’re going through but many
thing they’re going through but many when I have worked with this demographic
when I have worked with this demographic
when I have worked with this demographic I’ve realized that not only a lot of
I’ve realized that not only a lot of
I’ve realized that not only a lot of these youth are experiencing the plight
these youth are experiencing the plight
these youth are experiencing the plight of homelessness but some of them are
of homelessness but some of them are
of homelessness but some of them are actually going through a plight of human
actually going through a plight of human
actually going through a plight of human trafficking specifically I encountered a
trafficking specifically I encountered a
trafficking specifically I encountered a young woman who I worked with who she
young woman who I worked with who she
young woman who I worked with who she was being trafficked by another youth
was being trafficked by another youth
was being trafficked by another youth and it was very difficult for me because
and it was very difficult for me because
and it was very difficult for me because I care a lot for these young people and
I care a lot for these young people and
I care a lot for these young people and I assume many of you who work with this
I assume many of you who work with this
I assume many of you who work with this these types of demographics you can feel
these types of demographics you can feel
these types of demographics you can feel the same and so they often tend to
the same and so they often tend to
the same and so they often tend to become part of your daily speech and if
become part of your daily speech and if
become part of your daily speech and if you’re a poet like myself they become
you’re a poet like myself they become
you’re a poet like myself they become part of your writing they become the
part of your writing they become the
part of your writing they become the subjects of your writing and so I wrote
subjects of your writing and so I wrote
subjects of your writing and so I wrote a poem that I’d like to share with you
a poem that I’d like to share with you
a poem that I’d like to share with you it’s called – the young Queen on Orange
it’s called – the young Queen on Orange
it’s called – the young Queen on Orange Blossom Trail and here it is so the
Blossom Trail and here it is so the
Blossom Trail and here it is so the young Queen on all beat see your legs do
young Queen on all beat see your legs do
young Queen on all beat see your legs do not have to be lampposts to be the
not have to be lampposts to be the
not have to be lampposts to be the brightest lights on the trail
brightest lights on the trail
brightest lights on the trail yes eyes do not have to trick a
yes eyes do not have to trick a
yes eyes do not have to trick a truckstop to put food in your mouth
truckstop to put food in your mouth
truckstop to put food in your mouth don’t you remember when God made a man a
don’t you remember when God made a man a
don’t you remember when God made a man a fall like rain and yes you say the
fall like rain and yes you say the
fall like rain and yes you say the exchange is the only way as if when wist
exchange is the only way as if when wist
exchange is the only way as if when wist another man you can taste the wheat
another man you can taste the wheat
another man you can taste the wheat dissolve on your tongue need I remind
dissolve on your tongue need I remind
dissolve on your tongue need I remind you birds have mouths and do not have
you birds have mouths and do not have
you birds have mouths and do not have the capacity to communicate with the
the capacity to communicate with the
the capacity to communicate with the Creator yet their mouth still he feeds
Creator yet their mouth still he feeds
Creator yet their mouth still he feeds and you keep thinking eni’s you have
and you keep thinking eni’s you have
and you keep thinking eni’s you have wait so much value to let a man’s hands
wait so much value to let a man’s hands
wait so much value to let a man’s hands crack your porcelain do not let the
crack your porcelain do not let the
crack your porcelain do not let the pressure stunts your growth do not lower
pressure stunts your growth do not lower
pressure stunts your growth do not lower your luxury because there is nothing
your luxury because there is nothing
your luxury because there is nothing royal and conducting that type of
royal and conducting that type of
royal and conducting that type of activity at the Royal in and the roach
activity at the Royal in and the roach
activity at the Royal in and the roach that be oil and those things bedsheets
that be oil and those things bedsheets
that be oil and those things bedsheets use the phone books a call me said
use the phone books a call me said
use the phone books a call me said you’ve been pouring tears out your eyes
you’ve been pouring tears out your eyes
you’ve been pouring tears out your eyes so much that you filled the tub up to
so much that you filled the tub up to
so much that you filled the tub up to the dirt ring with it but you lied to me
the dirt ring with it but you lied to me
the dirt ring with it but you lied to me tell me you don’t mind even if it has
tell me you don’t mind even if it has
tell me you don’t mind even if it has you laid up in a hospital bed cuz that
you laid up in a hospital bed cuz that
you laid up in a hospital bed cuz that one time and I have to be strong for you
one time and I have to be strong for you
one time and I have to be strong for you but really I want to take you and shake
but really I want to take you and shake
but really I want to take you and shake you and mix your rational up like a snow
you and mix your rational up like a snow
you and mix your rational up like a snow globe cuz this isn’t right and I’m gonna
globe cuz this isn’t right and I’m gonna
globe cuz this isn’t right and I’m gonna be the one to say
be the one to say
be the one to say no but you say Simba chill it’s alright
no but you say Simba chill it’s alright
no but you say Simba chill it’s alright I don’t mind but young Queen I do and no
I don’t mind but young Queen I do and no
I don’t mind but young Queen I do and no I will not let it go excellent throwing
I will not let it go excellent throwing
I will not let it go excellent throwing dice with your life master on unless
dice with your life master on unless
dice with your life master on unless someone make a teacher out of you like
someone make a teacher out of you like
someone make a teacher out of you like our eye paints the homeless van all we’d
our eye paints the homeless van all we’d
our eye paints the homeless van all we’d seen when you count your dollars at
seen when you count your dollars at
seen when you count your dollars at night I want you to stop at 12
night I want you to stop at 12
night I want you to stop at 12 cuz believe they’re on to you and at
cuz believe they’re on to you and at
cuz believe they’re on to you and at that point you’ll no longer be able to
that point you’ll no longer be able to
that point you’ll no longer be able to pull the pavements like a comforter over
pull the pavements like a comforter over
pull the pavements like a comforter over your head a motel will no longer be able
your head a motel will no longer be able
your head a motel will no longer be able to serve as your place of refuge the
to serve as your place of refuge the
to serve as your place of refuge the night I became your hobo driver it
night I became your hobo driver it
night I became your hobo driver it became way more than just poetry
became way more than just poetry
became way more than just poetry community we have a red-light district
community we have a red-light district
community we have a red-light district trying to steal the innocence Ramona
trying to steal the innocence Ramona
trying to steal the innocence Ramona needs our youth we have homeless teens
needs our youth we have homeless teens
needs our youth we have homeless teens trick-or-treating to make ends meet but
trick-or-treating to make ends meet but
trick-or-treating to make ends meet but there is nothing sweet about letting
there is nothing sweet about letting
there is nothing sweet about letting another teen course you ain’t the one I
another teen course you ain’t the one I
another teen course you ain’t the one I always know the 528 could bring the road
always know the 528 could bring the road
always know the 528 could bring the road rage out of a person but I never know
rage out of a person but I never know
rage out of a person but I never know just how much traffic
just how much traffic
just how much traffic Orlando really had I wish I couldn’t
Orlando really had I wish I couldn’t
Orlando really had I wish I couldn’t smell you in the bark of every passing
smell you in the bark of every passing
smell you in the bark of every passing palm tree I wish the streets never
palm tree I wish the streets never
palm tree I wish the streets never extended its arm never closed doing
extended its arm never closed doing
extended its arm never closed doing cement then pardhu for gas like it was
cement then pardhu for gas like it was
cement then pardhu for gas like it was some kind of pimp I suck
some kind of pimp I suck
some kind of pimp I suck uncontrollably when you shared with me
uncontrollably when you shared with me
uncontrollably when you shared with me and you could pay for things like a
and you could pay for things like a
and you could pay for things like a place to sleep or your nails I’m not
place to sleep or your nails I’m not
place to sleep or your nails I’m not here to judge you but to love you and to
here to judge you but to love you and to
here to judge you but to love you and to tell you that there are other ways to
tell you that there are other ways to
tell you that there are other ways to sign than just being a streetlight if
sign than just being a streetlight if
sign than just being a streetlight if only you know you just so much more than
only you know you just so much more than
only you know you just so much more than that
that
that thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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