Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and Youth Speaks are teaming up to highlight some of the Bay Area’s most talented youth poets! This year’s Community Voices: Poets Speak series is all about youth voices.  

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This five-week series joins poets and the visual arts for a captivating experience! Eight Bay Area youth poets will share new poems created in response to MoAD’s current exhibition, The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion. Join us in the MoAD galleries to experience creativity at the intersection of visual art and poetry.

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Every Thursday at 5pm from January 12-February 9th the poets will perform original work leading up to the group reading and celebration on Thursday February 9th at 6pm.

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Upcoming Community Voices: Poets Speak Readings

2/2 5-6pm Community Voices: Poets Speak-Christell Victoria Roach & Niambi Walker

2/9 6-8pm Community Voices: Poets Speak-Closing Reception

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Featured Poets

Zouhair Mussa is a Sudanese/Nubian-American community organizer and multi-disciplinary artist from West Oakland. His art is based on the life he has lived and aims at addressing that which is detrimental to him and his community. He seeks to shed light on injustices that plague the places he calls home. He uses his art to remember the fallen and dreams of healing the struggle. Most importantly, he wants to uplift and inspire change with the aid of his artistic expression.

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Aleja Cobarruviaz (she/her) is a multidisciplinary poet, singer/songwriter, lyricist, and dancer. As a writer, she draws upon her own experience as a jumping off point for honest discourse on realities of the Black experience. In her own personal life, Aleja is a follower of Christ whose family has a long line of those who see visions and receive words and messages through dreams. Professionally, she is a visionary and business woman who produces vibrant life behind her own unique sound. Her music inspirations include Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Doja Cat, JID, and Outkast. Her work is about community-driven change and carving out unique spaces for uncomfortable truths to be heard and explored.

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