Greetings Beautiful Human!
I am excited to invite you to join me as I officially release the mixtape to the multimedia project, “i am from a punch & a kiss”! I have asked some of my favorite artists to share the space with me, including, Kimbi TheGoddess Tiez, Max Lit, Lindsey Lyla Flower Stevens, Tre Dekine, Caroline Caldwell & JF Ion Dra, Blaq Socrates, and Shemu’el Namaste & Calvin Byrd of AKATA Visions!!! Our host for the evening will be Fire (Monique Walton)!!!! The location is an artist haven created by the master mind, Pierre Houey! Food will be provided by the amazing chef, Traci Barr! Be prepared for a blend of soul, poetry, trap, meditation, creativity, and high vibes! With music, open bar, and amazing folks from across the Carolinas, you should be prepared for an amazing time!
What Are We Celebrating?
I applied to attend NYU’s MFA Writers’ Workshop in Paris less than one month ago. I had no idea what would happen, but I felt strongly to apply, and I did. When asked previously about whether I would apply for an MFA, I had always said no. The truth is, I had several fears:
1. Will I reduce my writing to the expectations of academia, forgetting to speak truth to power?
2. What will happen if I continue to ignore this call I feel to engage more deeply the process of writing?
3. Can I afford this?
4. How can this MFA elevate a transformative voice in the world?
5. Will my family freak out? (None of us has left the country before.)
With a short span of time to submit, I went into meditation, had difficult conversations with myself and loved ones about what I desire, and I reached out to people to submit letters of recommendations on my behalf. They each said yes, and I received notice last week that I have been accepted for admittance!!!
Funds used to apply and enroll were all thanks to my Patreon supporters (Cassandra Byrd, Courtney Leak, ShAy Black, Susan Lea, Charmell Davis Teasley, Vernetta Dekine, Tamara Marie, Creative Agitators, Ian Morris, Max Lit, and Hayle Oswell)! I am also thankful to my forgetting that I had setup a new Paypal account. Hehe! It was like finding an artist’s savings…imagine that?! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR! It has been beautiful to witness this all unfold without my knowing how!
What Will Funds Be Used For?
Currently, I am the Executive Director of a small nonprofit that works to heal what divides us. I teach college part-time, and I will soon be doing other part-time work. My work reaches wide as a poet and social worker, having great impact. However, these are not highly funded positions. I will be working full-time and completing this MFA full-time. LEHGO!
Your ticket fee, purchase of my book, and/or mixtape will assist me with roundtrip travel to Paris. Your decision to come out and have a good time & celebrate will also help with lodging during the four 10-day periods. TRUST ME, I HAVE DECIDED TO REALLY CELEBRATE.
Throw a party?! I have been accused of seeing the glass half empty when it is indeed half full, and this is too often the case. This is changing. There is growth and so much beauty on its way.I cannot wait until you hear these poems bathed in music LIVE!!!
Can’t make it out? Purchase the book or album at sapientsoul.bandcamp.com & sapientsoul.bandcamp.com/merch
Feel free to send your gift through any of the following methods:
Cash App: $SapeSoul
Paypal: [email protected]
Marlanda Dekine, PO Box 7133, Spartanburg, SC 29304
I hope you can come out & join us for a good time! I am thankful.
-Sapient Soul
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