Verb Flow & Vision with Chelsea Black Community

Join us for our second annual Verb Flow & Vision and Chelsea Black Community Spoken Word collaboration in honor of Black History Month!

TruKWENE headlines with her spoken word troupe "TRUly BAD" featuring D.Ruff, Brynna Boyd and and Anita D. Ten open mic spots are available. Essmaa Litim is our host. Spencer Lofts Gallery is the new home of Verb, Flow & Vision.

TRUly BAD is a collective of artists brought together by sheer luck but held together by their mutual passion and desire to grow as artists and humans. Individually, each poet has an extensive resume, bringing expertise to the collective ranging from co-hosting one of Boston’s most groundbreaking open mics for 14 years and counting, to featuring on prestigious platforms such as Button Poetry and Voices In Power as well as being a top 3 finalist in multiple national slam competitions, to having works published in Molecule Mag, The Trident Poetry Collective Anthologies, and Shooting Stars At Sky–The Poetry of Play. TRUly BAD is currently composed of four dynamic poets: D. Ruff who is a Roxbury-bred artist, performer, educator, and host. D performs with inspiring passion in hopes that someone of color will also want to find a way to express themselves, find that “tribe” and do it all, with the intention of leaving all the hurt, pain, and negativity, right where it was showcased. Then we have Anita D. who was originally raised in Brockton, MA but found solace to grow in poetry in San Diego, CA. Anita’s powerful performances captivate listeners because of the unique and compassionate approach she has to vulnerable topics. Her work consists of a personal narrative covering various topics from generational healing to mental health awareness. Third, we have the wonderful Brynna Boyd. Brynna Boyd (she/her) is a black, queer, writer from Texas, based in Boston. Brynna teaches middle school creative writing, and finds great joy in helping students explore their creative power. Her writing is informed by her lived experiences, readings, musings of better worlds, and the everyday. Finally, we have Tru Kwene who is a spoken word poet from Boston, MA. She has always been most proud of the opportunity she has to serve her community as an educator and mental health professional. If she could leave you with anything, it’d be to do everything you can in love and kindness. You can find them on Instagram @TRUlyBAD_Poetry!