Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Washington.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For several months, my #Pop- Up Poetry Series has been popping up in neighborhoods, finding sanctuaries in public places around the City of Boston. These events have also been creating a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere for people to breathe, flow, listening, participate and enjoy!
#Pop-Up Poetry was conceived this past school year in my classroom. My students worked very hard at learning poems by Phillis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Henry Thoreau, Emily Dickerson, Edgar Allen Poe and reciting & writing their own poetry! They would pop- up in other classrooms in the school and recite poetry! The kids had a lot of fun!!!!
I explained to them how poetry can make a difference in their lives and the lives of other people too! I went on to tell them how the work they do in the classroom can be just as important outside of the classroom too!
Leading by example, I decided to embrace the community as a whole and show my kids how poetry can make a difference in someone’s life in our community. On April 22, 2018, to commensurate National Poetry Month, I had my first #Pop-Up Poetry series in a Garden In Roxbury. My students, their families and people from the community came.
Haywood Fannell was the Guest Poet, some of my students, their family members and a host of other poets from the community recited poetry. Since April 22nd, poetry has been popping up across the City of Boston: Malcolm X Park, Franklin Park, Carson Beach, and Horatio Harris Park are some good f the beautiful places! I’ve met so many talented people along the way, of different ages, cultures, and walks of life who have a love for poetry, community and enjoy using this platform to share their poems!
To top it off and put the icing on the cake, this is also a health & wellness venture! Did you know there are some health benefit to listening and writing poetry? It improves cognitive mood, well being and stress, just to name a few.
This month, I’m having a #Pop-Up Poetry Block Party celebrating Grandparents, on Sunday, September 9th on the corner of Warren Street & Walnut Avenue in Roxbury in the Garden from 2-7pm. Sign- begins at 3:45 & Open Mic starts at 4pm. The singing group “Perfect Example” will perform, Chuck Turner is the Keynote Speaker, there will be a bouncy house, games and the Boston Police Ice Cream truck will be there! If you have the time, please come drop a verse or a rhyme!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m having a wonderful time embracing the community as a whole through poetry!
#Pop-Up Poetry series, A Denise Washington Plays Hard Event – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Denise Washington was born and raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was a METCO student who graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Television Production/Creative Writing from Emerson College and her Master of Science degree in Early Education from Wheelock College.
For quite some time she lived in North Hollywood and worked as the assistant to the producer for the WB sitcom “The Wayan Brothers Show” and as the production coordinator and then worked her way up to a team writer for the HBO sitcom “Aril I$$”. She is an Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts alumni and a voice student of the late John Andrew Ross. Ed Bullins is her playwright mentor.
Currently, she is an educator in the Boston Public School System who nurture souls on a daily basis and also enjoys teaching meditation, yoga & Zumba to the children, their families and staff!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is my:
YOGA Haiku Written by Denise Washington.
Focus on your breath be grateful and enjoy life duly strike a pose!
Contact Info:
- Email: deniseplayshard7@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Windy Seven, David Barkley, William Paschal
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
