Meet Our Poets
Amanda Shea
Amanda Shea
Amanda Shea is a renowned spoken word and multidisciplinary artist, educator, mentor, activist, publicist, power networker and mother. She knows, loves, and uplifts artists all over Greater Boston across New England to the DMV, Atlanta, Chicago... and beyond. Amanda is a community heartbeat. She's hosted BAMSFest and countless poetry events; she facilitates youth workshops for spoken word poetry, visual arts, and public speaking; she is a publicist for hip hop artist Brandie Blaze; she has managed and supported countless other artists in Boston. Last year, she was named among WBUR The ARTery's 25 artists of color transforming the cultural landscape. To top all of that -- she co-founded and curated five iterations of Activating ARTivism, a community festival to amplify POC through art, activism, and resistance. This event has featured artists from Boston, Brockton, Chicago, Virginia, D.C., and more. Importantly, it has raised awareness and provided support for local nonprofits like Mission Safe, The New England Innocence Project, Trans Resistance MA, The Simple Good (Chicago), and the LDB Peace Institute. Amanda is versed in running a community event, putting together an impactful, inclusive lineup of artists, and bringing people together.
Bread Thomas
Bread Thomas
Bread is a Gulf War Veteran born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He is an author, screenwriter and activist as well. Bread’s mission is to use his platform to use language to address the growing divide we see amongst folks in our country. Bread believes that communication, hearing and learning from those who are different than ourselves, is our path forward as a nation. Bread is also always looking for ways to inspire, help, and heal through his poetry and art. He currently has a book for sale on Amazon titled Lucky for Me.
CMNDR VAS
CMNDR VAS
Lyrical in his approach and musical in subject matter, CMNDR VAS is a spoken word artist. Vas invites you to sit by his campfire as he takes you into some of the defining moments behind the artist activists of the twentieth century. Gain a new perspective for the people behind the soundtrack to our lives and the mystical condition that drives expression.
Dara Kalima
Dara Kalima
Dara Kalima, also known as the Community Poet, is a Bronx resident who explores the concepts of love, equity, and healing all through lived experiences and personal observations. She has performed both internationally and Off-Broadway at the famous Triad Theatre. Kalima has authored four books, including Two X Chromosomes with an Extra Shot of Melanin (2019) and Still Laughin’ (2021).
Die Young
Die Young
My stage name is Die Young and I use that name metaphorically because where I come from the life expectancy is half of seventy. I consider myself Edgar Allen Poe with a hip hop flow and a teacher not a preacher who owns words in his leisure hoping that they reach.
Eric Love
Eric Love
Eric Love is an attorney and spoken word poet. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Eric moved to New York City during the height of the pandemic in 2020. As an attorney, Mr. Love serves the community by teaching trial advocacy and the rules of evidence to high school and law students. Additionally, he has experience representing crime victims as a former assistant district attorney in Bronx, NY and continues to represent victims as an accident injury attorney at the firm of Leav & Steinberg, LLP.
Eric is the author of a poetry book published in 2022 entitled Hexes and Hauntings, a collection of poems that explores the self-reflection and self-accountability lessons learned when healing a broken heart. A regular at open-mics throughout NYC, Mr. Love has performed at events for Inspired Word NYC and Poetry Me, Please - including performances at the iconic Triad theatre off-broadway.
Email: Ericlove1017@gmail.com
Eric Love
Evan C. Loving
Evan C. Loving (he/him), MFA, is a mission-driven writer, poet, editor, and creative strategist with absolute passion for storytelling and mutual aid. He is a natural leader who cultivates environments where each individual’s talents are celebrated and maximized their fullest potential. He served as the Senior Editor for COLOR Magazine, a Boston-based DEI brand for over five years. As an arts educator, Evan designed curricula and led empowering creative writing workshops for vulnerable communities for Writers Without Margins, Rutgers University - Newark, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Evan earned his BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and MFA in Creative Writing Poetry from Rutger University, Newark.
Evan is an inaugural City Verses: Jazz and Poetry Fellow, MFA Mentors Fellow, and two-time Hurston/Wright Foundation workshop fellow; He also performed as a member of the Emerson College 2017 CUPSI Team and the 2017 National Poetry Slam “Last Chance Slam” Team. His poetry intersperses panoramic scenes with dense, heat-forged phrases exploring a range of subjects from Greek mythology to alternate realities and Jazz legend Charlie Parker's legacy. His background in spoken word is evident in the richness of his sense of sound. His poetry is published in Apogee Journal, Jabberwock Review, Juked, The Offing, Lumina Journal, Wildness x Platypus Press, and others. Follow him on Facebook: @CuttsArtistry and Instagram: @fg_loving.
Greisy Genao
Greisy Genao
Greisy Genao (they/she) is a poet and filmmaker from Queens, NY with a BA in English Writing and Film Studies from DePauw University. Greisy was also a former Fulbright U.S Student Researcher and is currently a Dominican-American culture writer. They have been published in the anthologies “Ritmo Que Late” and "Ni de Aquí, Ni De Allá" from the Dominican Writers Association, and Sarah Lawrence College’s “Lumina Journal." As a multidisciplinary storyteller, Greisy seeks to explore the intersections of their own identity as a nonbinary, Dominican artist.
Hattress
Hattress Barbour III
Hattress is a Harlem native with a love for language and writing. His work actively explores themes of social justice reform, deep introspection and emotion to tell stories in an authentic way with a clear voice. Hattress describes his writing style as emotion-based minimalism, in which he seeks to simplify complex feelings at the root of the emotion which can be digested easily by the reader.
Hattress’ debut poetry collection, If Ever We Were…, takes readers on a journey into adulthood tackling themes such as mourning, masculinity, love and relationships, and race.
You can find Hattress all over the NYC Poetry circuit featuring at locations such as Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, Open Mic Renegades, Parkside Lounge, Bowery Lounge, Hexagon Lounge, and Harlem Mist. He also curates his own monthly open mic in the heart of Harlem called The Poet Tree. His work has been featured in the Queens News Letter, Daily Post, and many more publications.
Justin Gratta
Justin Gratta
Justin is a poet and musician that resides in Brooklyn. His raw, intense Leonard Cohen-esque rhymes explore relationships and mental health and land squarely on the pulse. Justin has recently taken on touring the NYC gig scene with his brother Brandon and their band @reggaelar_people. They just released their first single titled “Shawty Left Me,” and Justin is excited to remain tied to the poetry community through planning and hosting events.
Leah V
Leah V
Leah V is an award winning performance poet, event host, workshop specialist and officiant. Rooted from the Bronx, New York, Leah's content offers a nostalgic reflection of her upbringing as a first generation Nuyorican. Her work contemplates the world since Covid and the complex familial healing that follows grief as part of a latine family. Holding a BA in English and Creative Writing, Leah’s spoken word pays homage to renowned poets throughout time, ranging from 18th century literature through present day. Most notably, she has headlined over 10 feature length shows at the famed Triad Theater. Recently, Leah has begun touring the higher education circuit, recently performing at Depauw University & UPenn Carey Law School. Leah V also curates wedding ceremonies as an officiant and minister, providing newlyweds with handcrafted prose. You can find her featured on Wedding Wire and the Knot. Leah has a continuous publication portfolio including Souletri’s “Poetical,” BX Writers anthologies 1-3, and most notably - the 2020 Missouri Audio Prize for the recording of her piece entitled "Doncellas." Leah has been seen on BronxNet, CBS, and more. She recently founded her own open mic series, Mictastic. Her next publication is in the works, and you can follow her everywhere at LeahVspeaks and LeahVspeaks.com.
Website - Purchase ‘The Unblock Journal: Prompts & Activities for Writers’
Michael Haley
Michael Haley
Michael James Haley is a gay non-binary born in Washington D.C. in June of 1992. They were raised in a military family and grew up moving often through North America. Currently, Michael lives in Brooklyn, NY where they work in the film industry, and frequent several open mics and poetry events. Their debut collection, Clipped Wings and Other Things That Keep a Bird From Flying, is set for release early next year.
Navpreet Singh
Nora Oz
Nora Oz
Nora Oz is a poetess from Brooklyn, NY who has been writing since the age of 13. She is the co-creator and co-host of InterBoro Mic, a variety show dedicated to highlighting all spoken arts including music, comedy and of course, poetry. She takes pride in sharing her story and that of her community through spoken word. She encourages the same pride in her students and community as a member of the Professorial team at Poetix University, the Program Associate at Dorill Initiative, and part of the administration team of Black Greek Poets.
Poetic Boy D
Poetic Boy D
Poetic Boy D is a New York based poet and hip-hop artist. Well known for his storytelling, captivating and interactive pieces, D is a familiar face in the New York poetry scene and you know when he takes the stage, puts the mic down and steps into the crowd you’re in for a treat. Poetic Boy D is an Off Broadway spoken word performer, and has music available on all streaming services as Poetic Boy D. You can find his self-published book, Thoughts from April, on his website.
Sav-B
Sav-B
Sav-B is a poet, performer, rapper and motivational speaker from Long Island who was InspiredWord’s resident artist of 2020. He is a poetry slam champion, Tedx speaker and also has performed at the Highline Ballroom. Sav-B shares his truth as much as he can. His goal is to give more, and inspire people. His sound is truthful and powerful. His rhythm is captivating.
Amber Williams
SublimeLuv
SublimeLuv is a disabled black queer womanist who always speaks her truth and believes "the personal is political." She is a Boston born and bred spoken word artist, teaching artist, public speaker, and social justice advocate. She is a product of private and public local school systems; and became an activist through words at an early age due to her contrasting experiences in those institutions.
She has a fierce passion to combat systemic inequality, which disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations and people of the global majority. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Simmons University.
She has performed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum where she opened for Grammy nominated artist Maimouna Youssef, the Museum of Fine Arts, the city of Quincy's first Pride celebration, and she was one of the local and national artists selected for the inPublic Festival 2021 (a showcase that occurred at the Downtown Crossing Amphitheater and Plaza in Boston).
Through her art and future endeavors, she aims to empower womxn and gender non-conforming people of the global majority to impact visibility and positive global change. She is also a Lunch & Learn speaker with the Rise Journey.
LinkedIn - Website - Instagram - Links - Roar of a Lioness: Philosophy for the Queens
Zen Mateo
Zen Mateo
Zen Mateo is a poet and multimedia artist pursuing an MFA at the City College of New York. Her 2017 collection, titled Ache, is available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.