CONTENT Good Sense The Forum, featuring Federico Rios, FFTC Robinson Center for Civic Leadership 5 Questions with Charlotte Poet Laureate Jay Ward A Word |
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Intuition, or as some call it the sixth sense, is too often an unappreciated gift. Defined as “the ability to know or understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning,” intuition can serve as an important guide. Though frequently and narrowly attributed to women, we all possess the ability to tap into our well of cumulative wisdom.
A hunch, gut feeling, sinking feeling, and a lucky guess are some of the ways we describe intuitive moments. Artists, creatives, and scientists too, regularly rely on intuition as a matter of practice. They trust those flashes of inexplicable knowing to direct their work, which can lead to important revelations and innovations. Learning to discern prejudices and biases from intuition that can be followed is key. As with most things trial-and-error practice with your intuition will sharpen your abilities and confidence. Do you trust your intuition? Have you put it to the test lately?
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“I have to follow my instinct and intuition and curiosity.” ― RYUICHI SAKAMOTO
Japanese composer, record producer, and actor (1952-2023) |
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Join Us for Our Next Forum! |
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You're invited to the May 30, 2023 gathering of The Forum featuring Federico Rios! Federico is the newly appointed Senior Vice President of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at the Foundation For The Carolinas where he is charged with addressing Charlotte's greatest challenges and capitalizing on the region's most impactful opportunities. Federico will share his personal story, questions on his mind in his new role, his view of community, what he sees happening in neighborhoods that may lead to significant consequences to the city, and his hopes for the future.
WHEN | May 30 at 6:15 PM | Wray Ward HQ, 2317 Thrift Rd |
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5 Questions • Junious 'Jay' Ward |
BY VALAIDA FULLWOOD An Interview with Charlotte's First Poet Laureate
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Jay Ward is a poet and teaching artist from Charlotte, NC. He is a National Slam champion (2018), an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019), author of Sing Me A Lesser Wound (Bull City Press 2020) and Charlotte's inaugural Poet Laureate. Jay currently serves as a Program Director for BreatheInk, serves as vice chair on the board of The Watering Hole, and is part of several curatorial committees for arts events in Charlotte. Ward has attended Breadloaf Writer's Conference, Callaloo, The Watering Hole, and Tin House Winter Workshop. His work can be found in Crabfat Magazine, Lackadaisy Lit Mag, Four Way Review, Diode Poetry Journal and additionally on Button Poetry, All Def Poetry, and Slamfind.
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When and how did you know you were a poet?
Great question! I started writing when I was in the sixth grade, but I didn’t think of myself as a poet until 2009. When I allowed myself to think of myself as a poet, I started writing consistently, going to open mics and performing more frequently, and learning about the craft. Technically, I was a poet in sixth grade, and it took decades for me to have enough confidence to claim it. April is National Poetry Writing Month, where do you find inspiration for your writing?
Just life, in general. Art also is a source of inspiration. I find myself inspired being around artists of different disciplines. Being around poets and hearing and reading poetry inspires me, but also watching a movie or TV show, going to an art gallery or seeing modern dance performances. Being around artists of any type automatically makes me question, observe and think. I wonder, “how can I do this in my own art form?" if I’m looking at visual art or dancers. Whatever emotion or sense of questioning they evoke in me; I ask myself how I might stir the same feelings with a poem.
You and I recently collaborated on the “Flourish! In The Pianodrome” performance during the Charlotte Ideas Festival. What does it take to flourish as an artist in Charlotte?
It takes perseverance to flourish as an artist. In Charlotte, specifically, it takes perseverance along with connections and bridgebuilding to gain access to funding, spaces and collaboration. Sometimes getting all those things requires a willingness to stick to it. For artists, it is always about perseverance because you never know when that break-through will occur.
As with the analogy of sunflowers and seeds from the Flourish! performance, to flourish requires time. Watching the process of seeds of germinating and breaking through the soil, sprouting and growing can seem like a long time. You might think, “man, I’m doing everything right, watering, giving it sunlight and doing all these things.” But sometimes it’s all about timing and eventually those things you’ve been waiting for do come. What’s your “happy place” and why? I’m an introvert of the highest order, so my happy place would be at home decompressing, reading a book, or maybe consuming TV or something without the pressure of having to produce. What’s an idea you’d like to see come to fruition?
Right now, since it is Poetry Month and the end of my first term as poet laureate, so halfway through, the next thing I’d like to see come to fruition is a “youth poet laureate.” Efforts are already underway. |
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Learn more about Jay and his work! |
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ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE CENTER |
We are interested in what is good for Charlotte and what Charlotte can offer the world. At the core of The Charlotte Center is a deep regard for the humanities: those disciplines that offer a boundless treasure trove and method of understanding the human experience. The humanities invite us to our better selves. They offer a critical and constructive spirit that questions and calls us to what is good and true.
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Gratitude to our sponsors and donors! |
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Thank you to all of our generous donors and partners that make our work possible. |
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| | Follow your intuition,
listening to your dreams,
your inner voice to guide you. |
Katori Hall Pulitzer Prize and Olivier Award-winning playwright |
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| The Charlotte Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
Word to the Wise is compiled and edited monthly by Valaida Fullwood
Design by Goldenrod Design Co. & Maddy Stevens |
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