Here at Poetic Change, we are advocates for social impact as much as we are advocates for profitable and sustainable business.  At our core, we were created to empower through providing a voice, platform, and education to talented people who have not been treated fairly by government, systems, and institutions. 

Through this empowerment, we create hope.  We provide that support and protection that allows for others to , in the words of James Brown, " Open up the door, and get it themselves." 

​Fun Facts :
Did you know that Poetic Change is founded by a Black Female Veteran? 
Poetic Change is also mostly supported by veterans.

Did you know that most black veterans who served in WW2 were denied their rights and veterans benefits?  This happened to our founder's grandfather. 

Think of the economic implications of this.... For many , honorable service in the US military is a ticket to college education and the middle class. The ability to access capital due to military service has been a catalyst for business creation. Until recently generations of black Americans have been denied access to capital, or their basic rights.  To put this in perspective if Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive today he'd be 91 yrs old-the age of most of our grand parents and great grand parents. This denial of access to black people , has created generational inequalities . The effects are still felt , today.  

But Poetic Change, and our Friends are working to change this , so that everyone can have the hope of the American dream, and every American can participate in the vision of this great nation. 

Our friends at FinImpact have compiled an awesome resource list to help you be a part of the solution to improve systems and participate in economic justice.  This is our shared way of revitalizing the American Dream for all and bringing America closer to that meritocracy that we all desire. Click the button below to go to FinTech's site and access their resource list. 

​Please comment below and share widely. 

Remember #blacklivesmatter! 

Also, if you would like to have us help you solve your complex people, social , system, or design problems please contact us. Let's see if we're a good fit. 

May we remember , that sometimes all we have to do is exist . When we feel that the space that we are occupying is not welcoming, when the seat that we are sitting in is too small, or too large. May we remember that we are enough. 
That sometimes our purpose is to just be. 
That our survival is a testimony, 
and our existence is a glimmer of hope that lights a fire in the wheels of positive growth. 
May we remember that we are loved, and enough. 
and that sometimes we are exhausted because we are doing too much.  Over worked, over committed, overtime, and over the limit. .... 

"Go a'head girl go a'head sit down.... "
Your being alive and well is the morning sunrise in a society that functions for the sunset. 
So take your rest. Deep breathe , reset. 

Is every person a Leader? Watch this video by Derek Silvers from TED.

Lessons from the video:

• If you are a version of the shirtless dancing guy, all alone, remember the importance of nurturing your first few followers as equals, making everything clearly about the movement, not you.
• Be public. Be easy to follow!
• But the biggest lesson here - did you catch it? Leadership is over-glorified. Yes it started with the shirtless guy, and he'll get all the credit, but you saw what really happened: It was the first follower that transformed a lone nut into a leader.
• There is no movement without the first follower. We're told we all need to be leaders, but that would be really ineffective. The best way to make a movement, if you really care, is to courageously follow and show others how to follow. When you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first person to stand up and join in.

credit for this commentary goes to Derick Silvers from TED

Found this helpful? 

We'd love to help you make your work more impactful. Let's work together. Let's connect . Press the button below to get in touch. 

Here is my commentary: 
​

Hi Everyone!

I'm back. I'm back to writing, I'm back to performing, I'm back to speaking, I'm back to doing. 
I apologize for leaving you. It was longer than I intended.   Words are powerful. It matters what we say. When my words started attracting a following, and interest from businesses and academics, I wanted to make sure that those influenced by my words were being led down a path of light.

I am human, and flawed and I wanted to make sure that the systems that we are working to redesign and rebuild are built in a way that reflects the God that I know. The God that loves, that listens , that accepts everyone for who they are and motivates them to be better. I didn't want to contribute to the systems that worship a God that exploits, causes pain, or that creates separation and division among people. This doesn't mean that we are going to shy away from highlighting the effects of ill gained or abused power.  Bad leaders and systems have given us racism at West Point, toxic corporate culture,  policy that doesn't serve people, war crimes in Rwanda, water poisoning in Flint, disparities in our educational system, media that obscures the truth and sells conflict, and a justice system that profits off of those who are vulnerable. The effects of bad leadership and systems are many. I have written about these issues previously on this blog. These were just a few examples and I hope you get the point, so let's move on.







​
I didn't want to build a system that is not accessible,  but I also understand the need for us to be able to compensate those who contribute to us fairly.   Balance is a tight rope to walk.  It's hard and I am just like you. I am deeply flawed. I am human. I was created that way and I have accepted that. I am learning to not be crippled by shame, fear, or worry.   I want so badly for us to succeed and I do have a slight fear of failure... I don't want to let any of you down. 

Running Poetic Change is a huge responsibility. It first started as the answer to my own healing; My medication to trauma and abandonment; my therapist when doctors dismissed my pain ; my way to communicate to a God that had seemed so distant and at times a myth.  It has evolved to include so many awesome people  from military officers, to academics , to great business leaders, urban planners, activists, politicians, lawyers, a domestic and global community . I have you to thank for that. 

No matter what your title , job, or how much power you acquire, eventually we will hit a point where we realize we are not God. We are human, we don't know all the answers, we hurt, and have caused hurt, and want to do better. Humans want love and to love. Poetic Change speaks to that. We speak to collectively keeping ourselves in check , distributing power, and redesigning spaces and systems that need help with balance.  Individually we will fail, but collectively we will succeed . The God in me sees and needs the God in you to help create profitable, successful, inclusive, and equitable systems that reflect the love that we all desire. 

Those who have contributed to this journey, on faith, and who I still owe, I thank you.  To my many managers and team members who allowed me the flexibility to explore different business models with the safety of having a full time job to fall back on, I thank you.  I'm thankful to all of the lawyers who have provided legal council in these matters and in the matters of civil rights . Your expertise has been more valuable than most of what I have learned in a classroom.  I'm also thankful to my academic counselors and coaches. They stopped me from comparing myself to others, and to instead focus on getting the most out of this journey every single day.

​ My life is full because of people, not because of accomplishments or credentials. And because my life is fulfilled in this way, I will take my time, and do my best to put people first.  I am thankful to my husband for helping me to keep my heart open. Life is full of much trouble, I read that in the bible somewhere. ( Job 14)..   and that trouble can easily harden one's heart. It happened to me. And I was set free through love. 

It is this need to work on myself. This need to get to a spot where I could breathe and digest all that I have learned about how this world works, the realization of who really has power, the keys to gaining it and the process to shift the results of this human experience to reflect more of the God that I know , the God of love and ethics and understanding, that this has taken so long. But I'm back. We're Back  and We're ready to let you in again. .. Stay tuned for updates.  Love you all.  I haven't forgotten about you. Everything in time.  Here's to Poetic Change! I'm excited to show you all that I have been working on.  :-) 

Yours Always, 

Kylila ​​

This post is not my story. I tend to have many conversations with people. Some want to give voice to their experiences.  Poetic Change exists to shed light on many realities in order to  educate, and inspire a broader understanding of humanity. My hope is that this will also inspire those who continue to read this blog to become more self aware. I can't change you , and I can't change others. All I can do is help you change yourself.  These are universal rules for all environments.  Do you want to get better? Do you want us to grow?  These types of stories are tools to help us do so.  Change starts with us.  
- Kylila
Founder,
​Poetic Change 

In Tirzah Johnson's own words -

"This has been bothering me for a while.
About a year ago, I was at a party where a girl asked why blacks were being shot by police officers so often. She suggested it was because the people were less educated.
I thought about it and said calmly, “I guess it’s all about perception.”
She gave me a blank look and asked what I meant. “Well, let’s see, how did you benchmark my intelligence? What did you think I was like when I walked into this party and introduced myself to each of you 2 hours ago?”
She got quiet, so I continued, “You knew nothing about me, who I am or where I came from but you knew enough to discern that I was black and that you could ask me this question, right? Guess what you also didn’t know … that I have a degree. I’m here just like you, and I don’t wear a collar that says educated … If a policeman passes the quick judgment to shoot first and ask questions later, it doesn’t matter how educated we are.”
She was a little taken back by it … but I felt I was being honest and the conversation has stuck with me. Even if people think that blacks are more or less educated, that shouldn’t determine the value of our lives.
But you know perception is 9/10 of the law.
My parents’ car broke down two months ago.
I went and picked up my mom while my dad waited for the tow truck. We were on the way back to him and he called saying the police had completely surrounded his car with their guns drawn. I was damn near in tears and my mom kept telling me to calm down.
That fear is real and it hasn’t gone anywhere. I thank God everyday that he’s not a hashtag.
Anyone who knows my father (or how crazy I am about him) knows he is all about the community, doing the right thing, and being involved in shaping the next generation. The definition of phenomenal. In their eyes, they saw a black man, sitting in a car in the dark. I say this to remind you, it is not just the troublemakers, drug dealers, and thugs. These are friends, family members, and neighbors at risk. I don’t hate the police. I just wish that I didn’t have to fear them taking away the people I love without cause.
So to all my friends who believe this is a joke, feel like the black community is overreacting, or believe it is just the ‘thugs.’ There’s much more to the story. This is real, beyond real for me and my family, but it CAN change."
 


—tirzah johnson

*This post was first published on Tirzah's blog , FLOMM. A link to the original article can be found here​

'My friends are DOPE. .... and one leads a DOPE movement.  Shantae J Edwards, is a life coach , mentor, and passion pusher.  She's also a spoken word poet, but don't tell her that I told you.   As one of my mentors and friends, she is the only person who sends me weekly inspirational texts to remind me of my own power and worth. What a great person, right?   Many , Including myself, struggle with feeling worthy or good enough.  I sometimes struggle with feeling loved or valued.  We are human and we all have our flaws. It is because of people like Shantae that I have learned to not be so hard on myself and to care less of what people think of me. What really matters is what I think of me.

Sometimes, it can be hard being content with how I am. I used to think that my worth was tied to others perception and opinions of me.  Love was conditional. It was purchased through my actions , work and ability to produce. It was dependent on my accomplishments, or how attractive I was,  the athletic feats I could accomplish, how much money I made, or how great my academic grades were.  This was a very meritocratic way of thinking about love, worth , and Identity. It caused me to continuously over extend and be in draining situations.  When I came to the realization that my mere existence is enough, that by being here and alive I have purpose and my presence has altered reality just by living,  I was freed from fear. I became more independent.  Fear can be paralyzing. I found that I constantly feared failure. I feared letting others down so much so, that I neglected my own needs.  ( My fiance' and group of close friends are still working with me on boundaries, self care, and planning... it's hard.... this is a whole 'nother blog post.)

Realizing your worth is the first step to freedom and gaining power ( empowerment).  When we realize that we are enough. It changes the game and shifts perspective.  Don't let others price your life.
Some will say Jesus already paid that price,  others will allude to the historic end of slavery and expansion of the free market being road ways to freedom.  What ever helps you realize that you are in control of your worth, and your mattering in this small world, I'm for it. 

You Matter. You are Matter, dynamic pieces of creation that are necessary to life.  So live, be free, and know that You. Are. Enough. 
 
If you are in need of more inspiration, watch this dynamic Tedx Talk by my friend , passion pusher, and leader of #IAMDOPE, Shantae J Edwards.  
​
Click the video below and visit her at www.thepassionpusher.com and
twitter at ​twitter.com/theshantaej

On a separate and unrelated note,

Everyone should raise their fist against injustice. It seems the only people who are offended by the fist, have similar views as these neo-nazis. 
Let's not forget that if it wasn't for the strength of the U.S. Army during WWII, raising their mighty fist of justice against injustice, these supremacists would have caused much more pain.
This lady is so brave and strong.
Be like her.

I deleted the first article that I wrote about this. It was too much, a bit unnecessary ,and I am tired. 

I will do my best to focus on solutions rather than problems. I will only mention problems as a means to lead to solutions and nothing more. I will admit that I do hold a bit of resentment from my West Point Experience. I was hurt deeply by it and am still healing from it. I will try to not let my pain bleed into this situation.  So are ya'll ready? Here we go. 

Here's what I know: 

We are witnessing change.   West Point is innovating. Its policies are changing, and it is actively working to change its demographic to produce officers who are as diverse as their soldiers.  

Change is uncomfortable, hard, and people will fight it. 

West Point's Class of 2016 is scheduled to graduate in approximately two weeks. Some cadets and faculty are doing their best to prevent all but one of the black women in this class from graduating.  16 out of the 17 Black Women in a class of approx 1200 cadets are under investigation and may be kicked out of the army over a picture of themselves holding the "army strong" pose.  This pose requires one to raise their fist and is commonly done by the cadet corps during football games and army victories.

Some cadets and faculty members are resisting this necessary change. In an act of rebellion and fear, cadets who are  rumored to have been  influenced by LTC Daniel Gade,  a current professor and member of the chain of command to some of the women under investigation,  used a gullible , patriotic, vulnerable veteran by the name ofJohn Burk as a tool to promote their bigoted agenda to prevent a more inclusive ,  empathetic,  innovative, and culturally aware army from forming.  
​

Fear of retaliation? Yea, because his credible sources are liars, who have also broken multiple UCMJ codes and disrespected their chain of commands. 

This gesture of a fist is done during every football game, during march on, and during the army strong song. It symbolizes strength and unity, nothing more, and nothing less. 

​"The problem is not with our strong 16 ladies. No, the problem is instead with the cowards who go behind the backs of their peers ,  don't follow the rules, and don't show their face.  Once they gain the courage to stop hiding, they will see that the people who they are really afraid of is themselves."

Why would members of the West Point community turn on their own?   

I would like to believe that all are given a fair shot at life. I would like to say that when our founding fathers wrote "all men are created equal" in our constitution, they meant it.  I really would want to fall in love with this inclusive rhetoric of equal worth. But the truth  and the sad reality  is that in 2016, even after the life and death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. , and after electing our first black president, there is still much work to do here in America.  I am saddened that these strong 16 black women who have turned down top colleges to instead join the army, some deploying before even becoming a  cadet at  West Point,   accepted an abnormal and regimented college experience in an effort to become the best leaders that they can for America's sons and daughter, are treated this way. 

Why single these amazing women out?  Accept that they are not white, nor male. These women cannot change that, and were not recruited to West Point because of those qualities.  Instead, I urge  every member of the West Point community to embrace one another. You share the common bond of being army strong and making it through a tough institution , while overcoming struggles that are unique to your identities.  Our identities and individual culture are what we should collectively embrace and celebrate.   Innovation comes from having diverse talent. This competitiveness is what makes America great. Let's continue to improve our army by getting rid of the bigotry and attachment to tradition. I have full faith in these women. They, despite the hate, will make our army great, again. 

To gain more insight into what it is like to attend West Point  as a black woman.  Read these personal narratives from West Point graduates,  Mary Tobin, and Lela Victora. For Mary's note, click here.    For Lela's perspective, click here. 

 As Michael Jackson would say, it's time to look at that man in the mirror. 

Change is here. Embrace it , or leave

Today, 

I am thankful for
love notes. That remind me of 
so many gifts.

I am thankful for
those who use words
to uplift.

- Kylila


 

Movements are rooted in love,
Are guided by the requests of praying mothers, united by the melody
In our African roots.
We are living proof of the power of the village,
Of the collective voice that speaks healing into our open wounds.
Wounds left by generational trauma, passed down pain,  and denial of the slaves as human beings
Our narratives , when validated, are freeing.  
I serve he who is all seeing and knowing a
seed does not become a tree without the dirt needed to create an environment for growth.
Struggle shapes my character. It in the base of my resolve to do better, to be better.
I am the fruit,
 A product from those trees strong enough to withstand the storms.
I am royal,
which is why my roses have thorns- 
To protect the beauty of my people,
 To keep the playing field equal
Our strength comes from our struggle.
We are a resilient people, whom God took the time to paint and add extra clay to protect us from the rays of the sunlight.
We are diamond.
That reflects the light of creator, The prism that shapes visions.
​We are more powerful than we see.  
To God be the glory
I dream of the possibilities. I pray for the opportunities for us
To find our lights and let them shine.
 We are children of the divine.
Who are being polished and buffed by life
Which is rough as coal. 
But it is through our example that we invoke change.
It is through our words that we add meaning to our names.
We cannot stay the same.
We must learn, and grow, and do.
Collectively.
From Black twitter, to Black Wall Street, to the Congressional Black Caucus,
We Matter.
Individual atoms pressed together under pressure and fused with friction,
Create an immovable solid.
We are each other’s foundation
And we cannot progress without you. 


Poem by K. Kylila Bullard  ​Copyright 2015 Poetic Change
Written permission by Kylila , who is the Author of this poem and Founder of Poetic Change,  is required for all reproduction, reference, and publishing of  any intellectual property found on this website. 

Amazing... 
We are witnessing The New American Renaissance (similar to the one in Harlem)
Remember when I asked how much more?
Well.... I think he's had enough.
We are owning and rewriting our narrative. 
This is what pain does,...
it creates powerful art. 
It burns what is useless and selfish.
It creates resilience. 
This is true black privilege. 
This is what it means to be black when it's time to be black. 
Like dust... we rise. We Fly. Black butterfly. 
and "We gon' be Alright"... I hear you Kendrick. 
Thank you.
-Kylila


Check out Kendrick Lamar's Breathtaking Grammy Performance, Here. 

The monster in me, 
I cannot escape myself. 
These strong feelings of intense joy, anger, guilt, responsibility. 
I am sensitive to my surroundings, 
and those people who frequent my domicile. 

Intensity pushes work. 
It yields an abundance of stress.  Wondering when will I be good enough? 
Justifying when , where , and how I rest. 

The monster in me, 
reminds me that I am human. 
that I need help, 
that life is a struggle to maintain balance. 
To conquer the world, we must first conquer ourselves. 

The monster in me, 
can sometimes sound like the harsh words of disapproval, 
the disempowerment of women,
the self righteous zealot , the grudge holding racist, or that annoying troll. 

The monster in me, 
is a generational trauma that has deep roots in my ethnicity. 
It was watered in broken homes. It was fed through addiction . 
It was tricked into believing what is slavery, was freedom.
Its loyalty,
 fights to influence the good part of me. 

The monster in me, 
can sometimes hurt those I love. 
Because hurt people hurt people, and we are all recovering. 
And in our recovery
 we may need silence. 
we may need acceptance and patience.
We may need a God who doesn't resemble
 the monster in me. 

- K. Kylila Bullard 

Copyright 2015  
Please  do not reproduce with out written, or an emailed approval from the author ( Kylila Bullard of Poetic Change) of this poem.  

Recently, I have taken interest in learning how to code............. Why?  
                                                                 
                                                                            Because Coding is AWESOME! 


So awesome, that it allows one a greater depth of freedom, and I LOVE FREEDOM!! 
Can you tell that I'm pumped up to acquire this new skill?  :-) Good. 

The most important tool that we have is our story. There is power in telling our truths, because it creates connection.  Your voice matters. In fact, it matters so much that our founding fathers wrote extensive provisions to protect it in our Constitution of the U.S.  In fact our entire government structure runs on the voice ( vote) of those who make themselves loud enough.  Think about it, our very first amendment protects our freedom of speech. 
                                                            Why? Because it is the source of our power. 
                                                                                                        Yes! 
We should not be afraid to speak, even if it makes others uncomfortable, because as a human and an American,  we have those rights. 

 It is unconstitutional to have our voices suppressed, but it keeps happening.  Don't believe me? 
Look at the charges justified by the Patriot Act and brought to the family of Michael Brown, and the countless other families who have lost loved ones due to excessive police force.    But yet, the KKK and Westboro Baptist Church are allowed to make direct hate filled threats, under the guise of the freedom of speech. 

Voting Rights Act Timeline: 

I have always said that I love the ideals , principles, and values by which the United States was founded. I do not love the inequality as to how these freedoms and rights have been historically applied. It wasn't until 1787 that black and poor people voices were recognized under the 3/5 compromise. Many interpreted this act to mean that one male black or poor person 's voice was the equivalent to three-fifths of that of a wealthy white male . It was not until August, 18, 1920 that wealthy white women's voices were acknowledged through voting.  50 years ago, in 1965, a black person's voice, and story was finally counted as of equal importance to their fellow Americans. However there still exists great barriers to even being qualified to vote.  1965 is also when our country began a rapid stride toward progress and equality through beginning to break down the socio-economic and political barriers that were the foundation pillars of oppression. 

Our power is in our ability to not only tell our stories, but to be heard. The great equalizer and amplifier is the tool of technology. Today we are equipped with tools that our ancestors would have killed for. Imagine what more Fredrick Douglas, Marcus Garvey,  Sojourner Truth, Malcolm X, or Martin Luther King, Jr would have done if they had the organizational tool of Black Twitter, or were able to amplify their voice through the internet. 

We have a responsibility, in the name of freedom, equality , and accountability to become educated about both histories, ( Our personal stories, and the greater communities in which we live) to learn what is missing. Then we must amplify our voices. We must speak, un-apologetically. It is not only your constitutional right, but your responsibility as a citizen . 

Now do you understand why I am so excited to learn how to code?  
To sum it up.... .FREEDOM!
I will no longer have to ask for permission, or wait to have someone else speak for me. 
Through coding, we can create anything that we want.  

So go ahead and learn C#, Jquery, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Node,js, Ruby on Rails and all of the other freedom codes ( like my nickname for these languages? ) 

Oh, and guess what? 

I'm not the only one who has figured out that technology is the next tool to be used in our arsenal of progress and civil liberties. ..........................................................................
                                                        

 .......  So have most code schools.
 A friend from General Assembly- a startup code school-  sent me a list of scholarships for those who have been historically under served. 
Yes, Military Veterans, are included too! 
 Check out these opportunities and grab you a slice from the freedom pie. :-) 
Ok, I'm done lol. 
But really , check it out. 
and Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

There I was...... Sitting in Harvard Square, listening to the guitar of a street performer while rewarding myself with a $2.00 cup of frozen yogurt for completing the day's goals.  An older gentleman wheeling an oxygen tank and  amp sat next to me.  He started a conversation about my shirt that read "Wicked Smaht" ( really smart)- SN I saw the shirt in the Harvard Coop ( school bookstore) thought that it was funny and bought it. ... don't judge, lol.  

This gentleman wanted me to acknowledge that he is smart as well, which I did . We agreed that intelligence is a relative concept  because there is much to be learned from everyone.  Intrigued that I was open to listening to his ideas, he began explaining his life, his study of classism, his dissection of Plato's republic and other philosophers ideas of the perfect society ( showed him Jake's blog on the Peaceful Republic) , his educational background, his love of art,  and how he eventually became homeless.  Intrigued, I asked if I could videotape him, and he happily agreed. 

Below is the first of many videos that I recorded. 

Disclaimer: Harmonica Tom contributed to this video in his personal capacity. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of Poetic Change or any affiliates.

Now, I did my best to research Harmonica Tom, and to check the validity of all that he stated. While I could not find evidence of  his academic records from 30-40 years ago, I was able to find some of his homeless activism work.  If you are interested to find out more about Harmonica's Tom past, you may check these sources : 
http://skylight.is/films/takeover/
http://www.wmpg.org/Homelessness.html
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2000/10/06/5251.php
http://www.shawmuteducation.org/News.20010311210857.html


And the Homeless People Network , which is an online organization that was founded by Harmonica Tom http://hpn.asu.edu/. 

I don't care as much about one's past as I do about one's present and future.  I'm am thankful that Harmonica Tom decided to open up to me, and I look forward to many more conversations. 

Also, if you have any information to add to this series on Harmonica Tom,  please email me at Kylila@poeticchange.org 

Members of Poetic Change have noticed a problem, that there are too many leaders who under utilize the talent that is present on their teams.  Conformity and uniformity has its benefits. But an environment that is too rigid, is not conducive for innovation.  Innovation is born from diversity - diverse talents, different ways of thinking, and diverse people. When a leader does not know how to properly lead and embrace a diverse team,  that leader will not receive their full investment from their human capital.


Our Poetic Change Agents set out to change this dynamic in a creative and entertaining way.  Our first solution  is to bring awareness to the under utilization of talent, and then discuss solutions with our fellow Americans.   Our first prototyping of this idea was conducted in Washington D.C. - the home to many Poetic Change Agents.  One of our Agents- Ian Tran of Michigan has a background in sustainability and leadership development. He also is a classical violinist with an amazing ear for music and a heart for fusion.


Below are highlights from our first Creative Leadership Pop-up Concerts.

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

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. 

 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. 

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/

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 

I am an expert at the failed execution of great ideas. The journey of building a business around an abstract passion is intimidating, stressful, and thrilling. At times people do not see my vision or , do to insecurities, try to protect me from pain that they have experienced as a result of their failed attempts at following their dreams. I wish when I was a child that I was taught to value that pain, revel in the grind, welcome question, and allow a forum for conflict, as these are what lead to growth.

A wise poet once told me that a seed needs to be covered in dirt to create an environment in which it can grow. I took that to mean that when we try out our innovative business ideas and receive some backlash, we must be doing something right. Success is not dictated by intelligence alone. Most times it is achieved by those that have the perseverance, grit, and passion to work through the pain until success is reached.

When beginning this journey of turning my story ( overcoming trauma and abuse) , creative talents ( poetry, acting, directing, writing, dancing, singing) and skills ( digital media, web design, theater tech, computer troubleshooting, photography, coding) into an educational and entertaining business that contributes to society through inspiring cross-cultural communication , I assumed that it was going to be hard but I did not imagine that at times, it would require that I drain my bank account, work multiple jobs, and even change how I approach my education. Thankfully I am not in major debt, and I have been able to maintain good credit. Still all of the success that I have achieved so far, has been a result of failure.

Failure to live up to the extremely high expectations of my parents, led me to research positive psychology for my own mental health. Due to a slight stuttering problem that I have had since a child, I have failed at being the best speaker, so I felt forced to express myself through writing and memorization, which led to developing talents as a published poet, and a professional spoken word artist. Failure to quickly adjust to another culture, led to my curiosity in sociology. Failure to achieve in a strict academic environment, led to a creation of alternative learning techniques. The most recent failure has been to find a job that values me, as much as I value it. So I have begun to create my own by creating a business that caters to the good in people.

It is through failure that I have found the motivation to succeed. It is by failure that I have been made to define me. We are our most valuable asset, and we must choose to believe that we will reach success, even when we are surrounded by failure.

Treasure the good times, and learn from the bad. Only fail in areas that are necessary. It's all a part of the process.

See you at the top!

- Katherine Kylila Bullard 
Founder of PoeticChange.org

Below is a glimpse into my personal diary. Sometimes I write myself letters.  
This is one that I felt I should publish. 


THE     STRENGTH    IN    VULNERABILITY

This past year, I have explored the strength in vulnerability. 
The strength that I am talking about , exists when we are brought to an uncomfortable point in which we have a choice to either have the courage to look at ourselves, and allow others to see our flaws, or to choose to allow fear to force us to masquerade behind a strong persona, thereby not finding the solutions to our problems. 

In order to develop and grow as a person,  in order to progress on our life journey, we must be able to create avenues that allow us to accomplish our goals. This is done by finding solutions to the problems that hold us back. 

Most times WE are our greatest problem.  In order to learn what we need to do to solve  a problem, we must first be able to identify and explore it, locating the bad, so that we may nurture the good. 

By doing this necessary self-assessment / re centering process, I am learning to conquer my struggle of being vulnerable.