A.I. The Anomaly

Grateful for the opportunities to share the knowledge I’ve gained from countless spaces within the community. Grateful for the entities who value what I have to offer.

This is just a fraction of my students from . Today we went in great detail on building Artist Statements, bios and everything in between. This is community! Thanks for investing in engagements such as this and special thanks to and for understanding my passion for supporting digital storytellers who add value to the creative economy!
Shout of to for the pic! ✊🏾

today marks 4 years since a murderer came into our east side community and snatched the lives of 10 members. Devastated the whole city. I was angry. That anger still exists.

Then I decided to focus on joy. The fact that we have all we need to thrive brings me joy. Knowing that our community has leaders that operate within their skills and use their resources to support sustainability. That brings me joy.

That all we need is us betting on us is what brings me joy. Pain exists still… oh but joy lives within us as well.

We aren’t feeble nor faint. We are fighters. But we shouldn’t have to all our lives. Once we really grasp that…. nothing but JOY!!

I just want young people to witness and experience what is possible. I’ve spent so many years, time, energy and effort in developing creative arts programs… structuring and lessons to align with what I know it’s right.

What’s right is being honest. What’s right is seeing these young people as who they are… human. All of them coming with their own experiences, their own perspectives, their own ideas. All of them waiting for a chance.

I told them they had the most powerful voices.

I truly believe that’s why they aren’t being handled with the greatest care. Society might be out to silence them. 😒

Not on my watch. ✊🏾
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Poetically Speaking Workshop: Ingredients of a Poem

An interactive poetry workshop blending culinary inspiration with creative writing. Participants craft a collective poem exploring culture, care, and connection at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

Details:

Date: May 1st

Time: 5-7PM

Location: Buffalo AKG Art Museum - 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222

Creatives/Artists… when you were told there’s no money in what you do it wasn’t that whoever said it didn’t believe in you… in some situations they said it out of fear for you. Some people want the best for you and if there were no examples of financially fit artists in your surroundings… there was no proof that it was possible.

It is possible. It just takes processes.
Operate your artistry with excellence.
Failures are lessons. Lessons are gold.

I want to thank each and everyone who stepped into the auditorium at to experience poetically speaking. When a vision becomes reality, It’s always exciting to share the moment with other humans 😏. Thank you to each digital storytelling artist involved. Thanks for your professionalism always!! Thank you to each poet and writer who gave time to this project I appreciate you for allowing me to showcase your poetic existence. thank you to Burchfield Penney for making space for another creative idea. Thank you to the support team at

Even if you weren’t on this particular protect you each took a moment to at least check in on me. True circle ⭕️ Love yall!!

poetically speaking.

Benjamin is an author, spoken word poet, and teaching artist who leads poetry and flash fiction workshops for students from middle school to college among many other creative engagements.

He’s the author of Secret Anniversaries and The Procession, with work appearing in Ghost Parachute, Peatsmoke Journal, Wild Roof Journal, and more. His fiction was featured in the Buffalo: A City of Innovation exhibit at Conventus Connects Gallery.

A teaching artist since 2015, Benjamin has collaborated with Just Buffalo Writing Center, Eat Off Art, and many other creative communities.
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Poetically Speaking is a short digital storytelling and literary arts series project produced and directed by
Images by /
Graphics assets produced through

vonetta t. rhodes is a mother, educator, poet, and spoken word coach from Buffalo who began writing poetry at age ten and performing spoken word in 1992.

She’s been part of several dynamic collectives like Poetic Voices, Njozi Poets, Soul Aviation, I Am, Eyesis, just to name a few. She has also appeared in several spoken word plays.

Her work has been featured in Go, Tell Michelle, NPR, Dear Kamala, The Challenger Newspaper, The Buffalo News and more.

Through her voice, rhodes channels messages from her ancestors, family, and community, believing that spoken word must carry passion, emotion, spirit, and deep human connection.
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Poetically Speaking is a short digital storytelling and literary arts series project produced and directed by
Images by /
Graphics assets produced through

Swipe through and take a moment to recognize Brandon Williamson!

Brandon Williamson is a poet, performer, educator, assistant principal, and wrestler born in Buffalo, N.Y. After earning his BA in Theater from SUNY Fredonia in 2007, he returned to his hometown to continue shaping the local arts community.

In 2012, Williamson founded the Pure Ink Poetry Slam the first monthly event of its kind in the city. He has traveled widely on the slam circuit across the U.S. and Canada, and in 2015 published Critical Lens, a collection of his selected poems.

Williamson also facilitates writing and performance workshops for organizations throughout Western New York.
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Poetically Speaking is a short digital storytelling and literary arts series project produced and directed by

Images by /
Graphics assets produced through