Alyesha Wise
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Alyesha Wise | |
|---|---|
 Wise in 2018 | |
| Born | Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Poet, Speaker, Teaching Artist |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable works | Carnival |
Alyesha Wise, also known as Ms. Wise, is a poet, teaching artist[1] and co-founder of Spoken Literature Art Movement (S.L.A.M).[2][3] From Camden, New Jersey, Alyesha currently[when?] resides in Los Angeles where she also serves as a teaching artist for Street Poets, Inc.
Wise previously served as the head coach of Da Poetry Lounge's slam team and a co-coach for the Get Lit Youth slam team.[4][5][6] She co-founded and was a co-host of The Pigeon Presents: The Philadelphia Poetry Slam. She has been featured in a speaking engagement on the TEDx Talk series in which she dedicated the talk to her younger sister and Camden. While in Philadelphia, Wise was a co-host of Jus Words,[7] the longest running weekly open mic in the city at the time.[when?]
Wise is the founder and organizer of Black Women Necessary, a safe space for black women. Wise also served as a former teaching artist and volunteer coordinator at New Earth, and continues to teach and mentor in Los Angeles youth detention centers.[8] In 2017, she authored the book, Carnival.[9][10] Ron Howard once said about Alyesha's performance style, "Very Powerful."[11]
Wise's poetry commonly expresses themes of feminism,[12] African-American culture,[13] bodies and inherited trauma,[14][15] social justice,[7] queerness,[7] and sexual assault.[7]
Early life
Wise is originally from Camden, New Jersey.[16] She has five siblings (Wise is the second oldest girl) and was raised mostly by her mother. Her parents got divorced when she was five.[7] After watching Poetic Justice, at age 11, she wrote her first poem titled, "Black History."[17][18]
Adulthood
Wise moved to Philadelphia in 2006. Wise identified as a lesbian for eight years, and has had relationships with women.[19]
Awards
- 2018 2nd place Da Poetry Lounge National Poetry Slam
- 2014 Da Poetry Lounge Hollywood Grand Slam Champion[7]
- Two-time Women of the World Poetry Slam finalist[7]
- 2012 Queens Inspire Kings award presented by Kings Rule Together[19]
- 2010 5th in the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2010[17]
