Poetic Change Inc. - The social impact firm. We help people, communities, and businesses be a force for good.
  • Art
    • Poetry / Spoken Word >
      • Kylila >
        • Movement
      • Aaylx
      • Greg Dreifus
      • TQ
      • Venus Jones
    • Visual Art
    • Photography
    • Film >
      • Brown Ballerina
      • The Uncondemned
    • Music
    • Web Series and Prose >
      • The Peaceful Republic
      • Sammecia
  • About
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Boston
    • Baltimore
    • Tampa
  • Let's Work Together
  • Art
    • Poetry / Spoken Word >
      • Kylila >
        • Movement
      • Aaylx
      • Greg Dreifus
      • TQ
      • Venus Jones
    • Visual Art
    • Photography
    • Film >
      • Brown Ballerina
      • The Uncondemned
    • Music
    • Web Series and Prose >
      • The Peaceful Republic
      • Sammecia
  • About
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Boston
    • Baltimore
    • Tampa
  • Let's Work Together

The Journey

Journey to StaringBloc 

5/27/2015

Comments

 
What is StartingBloc?  It is a Fellowship for Change Leaders.  
To find out more about it please visit their site.
Comments

When Women Speak

5/26/2015

Comments

 
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. "-Alice Walker
Picture
Rape is not a result of sexual desire. Rape is used as a tool to dehumanize, to cause one to submit, and to give the attacker a sense of superiority and power over the victim.  Rape is also used as a tool to silence, through shame and guilt. 

During the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994, an estimated 800,000 people lost their lives and an estimated 250,000-500,000 women were raped during this three month massacre. 

 Survivors , activists, and lawyers  knew the  power that existed in their voices. They refused to give that power away. These Change Makers decided to no longer be manipulated by rapists,  so they took their attackers to court. 

When women speak, culture changes.
When women speak, nations improve.
When women speak, dignity is restored. 
Picture
 In 1997 , for the first time ever, rape was successfully prosecuted as a war crime and an act of genocide.   This decision to prosecute rape as a war crime,  advanced the "world's legal treatment of rape and sexual violence," as reported by the New York Times and provided the first international definition of rape as "a physical invasion of a sexual nature, committed on a person under circumstances which are coercive." 

"The Uncondemned" is a film that documents this historic journey. It has gained global support, and has started many necessary conversations among those who have the power to change culture. 

You have the power to change culture.  If you don't know how, you can start by speaking, by becoming educated, and by giving charitably to the causes that you care about. 

You also have the chance to become part of our global movement to end rape culture.  We definitely need your help to accomplish such a great feat. Any success that is lasting and pure is accomplished as a collective.  
Click the button to 
Show your support
Comments

Military Experience and the Arts

5/23/2015

Comments

 
Picture
This past week, I had the honor to assist at the  2nd National Military Experience and the Arts Symposium, held at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Jason Poudrier, an United States Army Veteran, Author, and University Professor, was inspired to bring the work of MEA, a national non-profit organization, to Lawton, Oklahoma. 
          Why Lawton? Lawton, Oklahoma is the city that surrounds Ft. Sill.  Ft. Sill is one of the larger military installations in the Midwest. It is also a hub for training, and thus is host to many young and new military members. 
The symposium lasted four days and offered over 70 workshops to help veterans and their families using the therapeutic benefits gained from expression through the arts. Some of the topics that were covered included fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, film-making, visual arts, comic book design, flute-making, and art as therapy.  
             One of my favorite workshops was about publishing, and was taught by famed military blogger and journalist, Randy "Charlie Sherpa" Brown of redbullrising.com.  In the workshop, Charlie Sherpa discussed how to survive as a freelancer,  how to gain a credible voice, and how to develop and maintain a focus.  In addition to the wealth of free knowledge and mentoring, participants had access to veterans organizations such as the DAV and the Vet Center- a free counseling service offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Participants also had the opportunity to record oral history, access a Women Veterans Retreat Room, One-on-One Consulting, and help for survivors of military sexual trauma ( MST) . 
Which reminds me, have you seen the movie Invisible War?  A former military police officer in the Air Force and a survivor of MST who appeared in that movie,  Dr. Miatte Wells , held a discussion to share her experience and create dialogue for solutions.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Another great workshop was taught by Benjamin Patton, the grandson of General George S. Patton.  Having earned a degree in Developmental Psychology, he has dedicated his life to helping  veterans heal,  express, and find community through the art of film making.  His workshop was a mini version of the four day camps that he runs at various military bases. We, a group of strangers, were given the task to create a short film that communicates an emotion or character trait. In less than 4 hours, we were able to successfully complete this task, learn new skills and gain new friends.   More information on his work and research can be found  at iwastherefilms.org/

As if the informative workshops and free food were not enough, once the sun set, entertaining and Broadway style performances emerged for the benefit of communal healing. Exit 12 , a dance company  founded by a Marine veteran and professional classical ballet dancer, told the stories of romance, sacrifice, helplessness, and hope by illustrating the life of two brothers deploying to war, returning home, adjustment with PTSD, and reconciliation with Middle Eastern children. 
Picture
I am forever grateful for this opportunity to attend this awesome and inspiring event. There were times where I was almost brought to tears ( shhhh.... don't tell anyone :-) ) due to the overwhelming passion that was felt for helping and healing.  I get so motivated when I meet people who have overcome tremendous pain,  to add a bit more beauty to the world.  The brightest lights shine in darkness.  It is even better to be among a thriving community of people who have chosen to shine their lights in order to facilitate a space that nurtures those who have given so much.  We are only as great as the lives that we are able to touch. I thank this experience  for that reminder.  #SelflessService 



Comments
    Picture
    Commited to innovative leadership and institutional change

    Archives

    July 2020
    March 2019
    March 2018
    September 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Dream
    Identity
    Love
    Military
    Purpose
    Reaction
    Toni Morrison
    Tranparency
    Trial
    Words

    RSS Feed

    Author

    My name is Kylila       (Ka-lee-la)  which means beloved. I am one who loves, or at least tries to. I have had many titles, Poet, Photographer, Videographer, Writer, Cadet, Private, Athlete, Leader, Director, etc.  I have learned that the greatest successes are born from the most tremendous trials. Everyone has  beauty in their life story.

Poetic Change Inc.

Boston
Baltimore
Tampa

Services

Consulting
Wellness

About

Intro
Terms of Use
© COPYRIGHT 2015.  Poetic Change, Inc.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
.
Photos used under Creative Commons from rafiq s, CJS*64