“Writing has always been a pathway for me to assert myself in a world that both troubled and intrigued me. Through this medium I discovered my voice, new language, and the power of my imagination. Suddenly I could create and contain whole new worlds that examined the struggle and hardships of my reality or captured the beauty and resilience of my dreams. Writing became an outlet for me and this outlet led me to poetry – where I grew fascinated by the oral tradition of gathering to listen to poets and performers speak and reach listeners with the courage of their words. The same words and courage that led me across the country to a degree, where I studied the art of storytelling and world building for the screen. Writing has been a dynamic force in my life and poetry has always thrived between the lines of my identity and belonging to community."