This trip reminded me that the world and cities within them are so much more alive with opportunity yet not every person is handed something hopeful. We Are Here taught me that the issue and movement of Black Lives Matter is bigger than what happens between police and black boys and men in the US; it also affects refugees from countries in Africa who may not be treated the same way as others because of their skin color. This absolutely broke my heart and helped me to have a type of kinship with their story. Because their story also relates to the stories of displacement that happen in the communities that I work in, that happen to me. I had a moment of clarity and almost divinity in thinking wow, maybe God will use this horrible year of displacement and instability in my own life to relate with refugees and together we can heal and create powerful art.
As for my future, I just want more experiences to grow and learn from new people. I’d love to go back to Holland and work with Parlan and We Are Here as an artist-on-call to teach poetry and help youth and refugees tell their story and gain of sense of “seen-ness” and visibility, which to me means being seen, heard and appreciated. My calling is definitely to use poetry and art to help people realize how much they matter and to realize their own resilience. Though I did not get to teach during the trip, I was empowered to continue to use my art in my own community and life to foster hope and a brighter tomorrow.
As for my future, I just want more experiences to grow and learn from new people. I’d love to go back to Holland and work with Parlan and We Are Here as an artist-on-call to teach poetry and help youth and refugees tell their story and gain of sense of “seen-ness” and visibility, which to me means being seen, heard and appreciated. My calling is definitely to use poetry and art to help people realize how much they matter and to realize their own resilience. Though I did not get to teach during the trip, I was empowered to continue to use my art in my own community and life to foster hope and a brighter tomorrow.