A Letter to the Poet Laureate Selection Committee
Good Day, Greetings & Salutations. My name is Wakefield Brewster, Poet and Spoken Word Artist. I would like to impress upon you, some of who I am, whom I represent, what I have done and finally, what I may do for Calgary as its Poetic Ambassador, Poet Laureate.
I am a Poet of My People.
I have been an active Poet, Participant, Producer and Promoter in Canada’s Poetry and Spoken Word Communities since my very humble beginnings in Toronto in 1999. 21 years is almost half of my life that I’ve spent fiercely and ferociously spearheading Poetry and Spoken Word into every single circle of society I can infiltrate. I state that with conviction as Poetry has almost forever been seen and viewed as a ‘thing’ for Poets and Poetry Appreciators alone, and that is simply incorrect. I say that I infiltrate societal circles with Poetry because that description is apt and accurate. I have taken Poetry hostage from the stage, kicking and screaming, and I have effectively wrestled it to the floor, where all of the People are standing – ALL of the People.
I have created a Trifecta of Living that I feel defines me. I believe that I live in the Humanities, I’m an Advocate for Literacy and my vehicle is Poetry.
The Humanities involve all of the wonderful and wondrous ways that people may connect with one another and truthfully, not everyone ‘lives’ in this sphere though, they live in this sphere. I wish to show them that they belong. Literacy is a gift – and a necessity – one that is not accessible to, nor presented to all people equally, sufficiently, comparatively, or at all. I aspire to have literacy as a champion in everyone’s personal arsenal so that they may always be able to read the signs of their lives. Poetry is the highest form of lyrical expression. I intend to inform people that they may say – anything.
I am a Poet of My People.
I have been bringing Poetry to students for all of my 21 years with my company, Page2StageProductions, formerly, ‘b. funkee productionz’. The last 14 years of my life have been in this great cultural capital of Canada and it is here, that I truly began to explore the endless possibilities of what my Poetry does and what it may do. Students whom I’ve taught, range from Grades 3 to 12, college, university and PhD levels, to give you a spectrum of how wide an audience I teach and reach.
It is here in Calgary that I began to really notice the students that I was reaching in particular; those of the ‘disenfranchised’ communities. I’m referring to those students with lives, obstacles and challenges that go beyond those norms of their friends and peers if they even possess circles of such. I have been identifying and tapping into people that are isolated, trapped inside of themselves, unable to reach out, unable to cope and unable to connect. I have always professed that Poetry allows me to relate to the reality of my surroundings. I am beginning to show others that they may, too.
The elementary reason that I connect with these communities is because there is a hard and visceral part of me in all of them – all of them, are me.
I am a Poet of My People.
I have recently disclosed quite publicly that I am an Alcoholic, a Drug/Substance Addict and that I struggle with major Mental Wellness obstacles. In that disclosure, I also made it known that I’m almost 4 years sober – the sole reason for so many changes in my life, my opportunities, my very personality. The responses of the people that then made those instant ‘ah-ha-moment’ connections with my Poetry flooded all of my social media. People realized that I’ve been writing through addiction, alcohol, mental illness, loss, grief, guilt, shame and finally – recovery. People realized that I was truly writing about what they were going thorough, too.
Through Poetry, I have not only gained notoriety and bragging rights as one of Canada’s most dynamic and prolific Performance Poets, I have also been able to learn and grow and recover. Poetry saved my life from the brink of committing suicide several times, 6 near deaths and gave me a real life to live on this side of the dirt.
We have moved into the Information/Connection Age. We as a people, as a species even, are beginning to open up, become vulnerable and connect mostly – through sharing stories.
Stories.
Some of us are beginning to tell our stories and the stories are beginning to be heard. However, some voices are not being sounded loudly for feeling that if they even had the opportunity, they wouldn’t speak, shouldn’t speak, or couldn’t speak. I want to bring those who are feeling this way to a new option, a new option to not only speak, but also its sibling option, to be heard.
The Calgary Mental Health Association has caught wind of my work and they have found it refreshing and hopeful. I’m to be podcasting with them in the near future. In January, I was at MRU speaking on my journey and performing relevant and relatable pieces of Poetry for National Hope, National Hope Talks and Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health.
I once brought Poetry to the People as entertainment. I’ve brought Poetry to the People as education. Now, I wish to also bring Poetry to the People – as they may find ways to write their Way To Wellness.
I am a Poet of My People.
The communities that often most feel the effects of poor literacy and/or lack of literacy, are those that are far from affluent. I am referring to communities that are in struggle, strife and plight due to their financial and socioeconomic status and a myriad of personal tragedies to deal with on the regular, by the month, by the week, by the day, by the hour and literally – by moment to moment. I’ve witnessed this as fact.
Whenever possible, Page2StageProductions has established after school Poetry and Performance WRiteShops for as long as 12-16 weeks in length, for all ages, free of charge in communities such as: Radisson Heights, Southview, Forest Lawn-Forest Heights, Erin Woods and Dover. I’ve managed this through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, International BRZ Revitalization Initiative and The City Of Calgary.
Incidentally, when I first moved to this great city, I lived a full and happy decade across the street from Marlborough Mall, aka: Area 51, at Memorial Drive and 36 St. SE – Fonda.
I am a Poet of My People.
Finally, to fully seal my full circle, I bring Poetry to People and I bring Poets up to Performers. I have run Pitbull Poetry Reading Series since 1999 intermittently across Canada. I have had enormous success with Poésie à la Pâtisserie – a weekly Poetry Reading Series that I ran for an entire year, each Thursday in Woodbine, SW. Now, I’m crossing over musicians and Poets with my new performance series, The New Beat, brought to you by The Indie YYC, in Inglewood. Why I consider my Reading Series and events so successful, is because of my attendees’ opinions and accolades.
My events are reputed to be the of most chill, laid back, inviting, friendly, inclusive, non-competitive, no-scoring, most welcoming, and most importantly – the SAFEST Poetic atmospheres that many have ever attended.
Yes, heavy hitters and seasoned veterans attend, but they are NOT the show. The show almost always features the newbies, the shy, the frightened, the underground, the underdogs of my PoetryCommunity. I have been for 21 years, creating a stage that’s accessible, enticing and encouraging for All Poets, especially those who don’t yet even know that they are.
No one gets left out. A staple mandate of mine is inclusion. Inside of Poetry, and inside of Wellness, I make sure everybody belongs.
As MyBrother John Ware pioneered through Alberta, he single-handedly changed the face of the Canadian West. Our esteemed Mayor Naheed Nenshi, by culture, colour, competence and conviction, changed the face of prairie politics. With your help, I aspire to change the face of what Calgarian Poetry has been, in its undiscovered and underground fashions; what it can be, in its ever-evolving future as Calgary continues to change and grow as one of Canada’s Cultural Capitals; and also what it presently is, dialogue, dynamic, defining and diverse.
I am a Poet of My People.
I wish to be the Poet of Calgary’s People.
Thank You.
