Meet Jessica Wilson | Jessica M. Wilson, Poet, Artivist, Educator | Founder & Executive Director of the Los Angeles Poet Society

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In all honesty, I wanted to put out a beacon to find other creatives like me.

Los Angeles Poet Society began in 2009, about a year or so after I completed my Master of Fine Arts degree at Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles. I was a student in the Creative Writing Graduate program, learning from the maestro Poet, from the line of the Beats, and an Italian Translator, Paul Vangelisti. I would meet Poets, Artists, Storytellers, every week and definitely each month. I loved watching creations being shared. When I graduated the Writing program, I was no longer getting literary goodness… no creative nurturing, no sharing… where was the scene? Who was in it? Why was it a secret?
Well…in rooting in all that uncertainty, I was certain of 1 thing; I knew that I wanted to know; and would take everyone with me so they would know too.

I started the Los Angeles Poet Society (because I am from LA, East LA), and I wanted to serve as the bridge between open mics and writers, publishers and writers, singers, and poets… etc. I became we, and 12 years later, we are still the “we” that “bridges the creative community of Los Angeles county and beyond!”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a poet and that is the one thing I always wanted to be for the rest of my life. I’ve always enjoyed throwing a big party and engaging with other folks in the arts, And other like-minded folks, bringing people together. Then there’s something about writing. The power of poetry, when you begin to realize that you can also help amplify the voice(s) of those who are unable to speak, or not as freely as see you are. ….
So it is the call to activism where artivism comes to life… the Artivist is an evolution of the Poet.

I am an Artivist. and I am so blessed and humbled to be a published internationally, published in Paris France with Swan World Press/ Editions du Cygne, 2015.
I founded Los Angeles poets Society which is an organization I began in 2009, and wanting to be a bridge to other creatives and creative communities along Los Angeles County and beyond!
Basic basically keeping everyone in the know; and in the power of persevering in poetry, the triumph of the spoken word in Los Angeles, documented.
We’re super proud of that.
We are Chicanx – BIPOC – womxn led… proud to be from East Los Angeles and helping to share the voices of this city.
LAPoet Society is grassroots.

My poetry artivism is also shared through the vehicle of the Los Angeles Poet Society.
I feel that we can rise up together.
I try to give the opportunity to others to show us how it can be done, through our creative voices, and it’s been vital to be in touch with community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s been a few years since I was hanging out in the city. I’m not even sure what has made it since the pandemic happened and is still happening in pockets around town. I hope this message finds everyone well…..

Well if you were here, in town, I would definitely want to take you to see the sunset from the Venice Beach Boardwalk — that is always nice; And if we get there early enough, we can always go see the tidepools …and see all the beautiful aquatic life that’ there.
Then we can go to the Santa Monica Pier, and hang out at the boardwalk ….and maybe going to the Ferris wheel (if you can talk me into it ha ha I’m pretty scared of that ride —don’t ask why.))

Alright then that let’s say if you’re here for a week I’ll definitely take you to Long Beach and let’s hang out in some of the high-rises and eat at the restaurants up there —- they have pretty amazing tacos.!

I would like to take you down Wilshire Boulevard and see the La Brea tar pits and walk around there, and maybe visit the LACMA Museum. — I love art have — I have an art history background. It would be amazing and going on a hike at Griffith Park — and if we are brave enough, we can get a Rental Car to cruise down Mulholland and hang out at the reservoirs

oh and don’t forget that we have to be sure to get hot dog at PINKS on La Brea.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my words to those being silenced. No more stolen sisters. Stop the genocide of Black Indigenous People of Color.
Thank you to my father, Joseph Allan Wilson, for pushing me to write.
I love you.

Website: www.jessicamwilson.com www.lapoetsociety.org

Instagram: europawynd

Twitter: europawynd

Facebook: JessicaMWilsonPoet

Youtube: youtube.com/c/JessicaWilsonEuropawynd/videos

Image Credits
Photos from Jessica M. Wilson