S.C. Says

I turn 36 today.
I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.
I still regularly have popcorn for dinner.
I still love getting lost in a new book.
I still wonder if I’m doing enough.
I still struggle with depression.
I still take board games way too seriously.
I still find joy in performing poetry.
I still love emo music.
I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have my family.
I still love helping people feel seen.
I still haven’t beat Ocarina of Time
I’m still grateful to be here, alive.

Onward. Forward. Cheers ❤️

📷.s.o.photography

It has been an INCREDIBLE 👏🏾🙌🏾👏🏾!! I got the chance to host/feature a slam poetry evening and the work that came through was 🔥🔥🔥. HUGE ups to and his dope slam poetry theatre production who’s cast came through to share pieces from Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf.

After Madison I flew to San Fran to perform and bring my empathy programming to . There’s a Zulu word I reference in my programming, Sawubona, and this is the first time in 6 years of doing this that every student already knew what it meant and why it was a powerful greeting 🥹😭. And to hear what some of the HS students are already doing to create spaces for belonging, both abroad and on campus, truly lit me up 🔥. Y’all our future gives a sh*t, and I am frequently leaving schools more inspired than when I arrived.

I got to cap off the month performing my new program around for 2024. The most substantial thing that slam poetry has taught me is how many connecting points we find when we create space for and celebrate each other’s stories, and today I am again reminded of how remarkably healing vulnerability and story can be. I shared poems around father son relationships, mental health, self love, and resilience to a room full of professionals and got to authentically connect with so many of those professionals afterwards. Stories of cancer survival, struggles with anxiety, navigating love, and mending relationships got shared that just wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I can’t fully articulate how grateful I am to everyone who shared their stories with me and held space for mine.

It’s been an amazing month 🔥🧡. Onward. Forward.

Performance schedule for the week 🧡, LOVE every chance I get to perform in CO and already off to a great start, let’s gooooo 🤩🧡🙌🏾!!

(Sorry if I don’t get back to your messages super quick, gonna be a bit of a hectic travel week 😅)

Thank you 33 🙏🏾. Hello 34, it’s good to be here 🧡.

And we’re off 🙌🏾!! Stoked for the performances already lined up, including a couple actually in Austin 😅😆. So grateful for every single opportunity to share my passion for empathy, poetry, and resilience 🙏🏾!

Check out my bio for more info and booking 🎙️🔥

It has been SUCH a phenomenal month 🙌🏾🔥! Got the chance to kick off the month doing a performance and workshop for the fantastic . It’s my favorite time of the year to be on the east coast and getting the chance to do what I love and have some amazing conversations around empathy and community was just a feast for my soul 🫶🏾.

Following, I did an artists in residency program for one of my favorite schools to parter with , and spent two days working with every MS student on crafting and sharing their own story. I love performing, but getting the chance to help someone tell their story the way they want to tell it is such 🔥 for my own joy and inspiration. Some of the work these students created would have already been competitive at any poetry slam, which blew my mind 🤯.

Had the AMAZING opportunity to fly to NJ and be a part of Diversity Dialogues Day performing and supporting student led empathy workshops. The camaraderie and community at this school was remarkable. I left that campus feeling not only appreciated but incredibly encouraged about a future generation that sees each other’s humanity.

Got to close this awesome month leading storytelling workshops at Andrew Jackson MS in my hometown of Grand Prairie. There are few things more validating than being able to go back to the place you grew up and give back a little bit of the inspiration and motivation it gave to me. I am beyond grateful for every single opportunity I get to do what I love 🙏🏾❤️!

Happy Halloween 🎃!!

Alright Austin poetry lovers, if you’re looking for a bit of nostalgia and a GREAT show, is putting on an open mic/published poetry showcase tomorrow evening (8/29) 🙌🏾🎙️🔥! These are photos from the first one of these events they put on last month (featuring AGT winner !) and it was EVERYTHING 😭! This venue has always felt like a 2nd home to me, it’s where I found my voice and some of the best community anyone could ask for. It’ll be a joy to return to this venue and share the stage with poets who literally inspired me to start performing in the first place.

WAN Publishing will be featuring four poets they’ve published (myself included 🙏🏾) and hosting an open mic for anyone wanting to share their creativity and story. It’s gonna be an awesome night in a dope space, and you can pick up a signed copy of my first ever collection Golden Brown Skin 🙌🏾📖. Grab your 🎫 at the first link on my page and we’ll see you there!

Happy birthday to my amazing and ridiculous wife 🥰, thank you for the wonderful amount of love you continue to show me despite my being gone a ton and never loading the dishwasher correctly 😅. I am grateful to have been a part of so many beautiful, trying, funny, stressful, successful and joyful moments with you this year and can’t wait to see what this next year holds for you. I love you ❤️

First. Obviously this is an older photo because it’s a million degrees outside and there’s absolutely no way I’m wearing a leather jacket anywhere. Second. I’m going to be doing a poetry set with some other 🔥🔥🔥 poets and authors on August 29th at the place I first found my voice, 🙌🏾. Come thru, get filled, share your story🧡! Tix at first link 🔗

2 days, 6 performances, a writing workshop, 50 books, and so many moving conversations and I’m just feeling overwhelmingly grateful 😭🙏🏾🧡. It was an absolute JOY to return to the this week to perform for the junior and senior class. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as emotionally uplifted and tapped at the same time 😅.

This community has been through an incredibly heavy year in so many ways, and to see how they rally for each other gives me such a deep hope in the future 🧡. Once again I’m leaving a programming experience more inspired than when I arrived and I love that. I’m going into Thanksgiving week with so much gratitude and inspiration for continuing this work 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾!