In Volume Seven: Chapter Eight of the Program, we welcome Milwaukee, Wisconsin-born and based Writer, Poet, Storyteller, Author, Performance Poet, Teaching Artist, and Creative Change Agent Dasha Kelly. A former Milwaukee Poet Laureate and Wisconsin's first Black Poet Laureate, Dasha has spent decades building community through the power of story, imagination, and creative expression.
During our conversation, Dasha reflects on her early years as a self-described curious kid, arts-and-crafts enthusiast, and natural storyteller. We discuss the role her mother played in encouraging her creative pursuits, her early interest in fiction writing, and how a fascination with psychology and human behavior ultimately intersected with her lifelong love of storytelling.
Dasha shares her journey into poetry, including her initial resistance to the form before eventually embracing it as a powerful vehicle for exploration and connection. We talk about her creative process, how she determines whether an idea belongs in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, and the ways those forms often overlap in her work.
We also examine the evolution of Milwaukee's literary community through Dasha's eyes, comparing her reflections from the early 2000s to the thriving creative culture she helped cultivate over the years. She speaks candidly about community building, connection, and the profound impact of bringing together people from different backgrounds through shared artistic experiences.
Contact Dasha:
Website: dashakelly.com Instagram: @dasha_kelly
Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:
Porsha O. – Trigger
Instagram: @porshaolayiwola Website: porshaolayiwola.com
Barbara Fant – Medicine
Instagram: @iambarbarafant Website: barbarafant.com
Black Chakra –I Spit Fire
Instagram: @blackchakra88
Ariana Brown – Supremacy
Instagram: @arianathepoet Website: arianabrown.com
Javon Johnson – Shotgun
Instagram: @javonism
