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Unearthing US: Poems and Practices for Discovering Our Fullest Selves
Unearthing Us: Poems and Practices for Discovering Our Fullest Selves is a collection of 21 poems and practices inviting readers to envision a world planted with possibility, growth, and flourishing. Each poem includes an Unearthing Practice that draws wisdom from the poet's visits to his ancestral land of Jamaica. These poems and practices beckon readers to dig deeper into ourselves and our communities to grow more joy and beauty within and around us.
In this Essential Conversations session, we will explore 3 stages of Unearthing:
Plant: Poems for planting seeds
Grow: Poems for growth
Flourish: Poems for cultivating abundance
What inspired you to start writing poetry, and how has your background growing up in Minnesota influenced your work?
I had a lot of creative energy as a kid and I needed somewhere to put it. Art was always my outlet. At first it was playful and I would write poems to my schoolyard crush, but it became therapeutic when I got severely sick and began writing as a way to process my childhood trauma. Being immersed in the artist and activist communities throughout the Twin Cities taught me how to elevate the art as a catalyst for social and cultural transformation. Now I tour the country using poetry to power possibility, inviting the practice of envisioning and embodying a world beyond the status quo.
Your poetry often explores themes of identity and social justice. Can you share some of the experiences or events that have shaped your perspective on these issues?
Encountering the work of Langston Hughes and Maya Angeluo at a young age is what first ignited my imagination and showed me what's possible for Black folks in spite of our circumstances. There was joy, there was hope, there was the unconditional love and affirmation of my humanity and the humanity of others like me. Although I was further called into action by my community's response to police violence, I'm grateful to have been given a deep-rootedness of joy, hope, and love as initiating forces.
Joe Davis is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility.
He is the founder and director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, teaching holistic health and wellness practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater, and dance. Joe holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology of the Arts and also heads a multimedia production company, a soul funk band, and a racial justice education program. His work has been featured on BET, CNN, and VH1.
Poetic Diaspora: Journeying through the sonically diverse realms of old school and new school hip hop, R&B, funk, and soul, Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora seamlessly blend melodic harmonies, smooth instrumentation, and raw, poetic energy to tell stories of struggle, resilience, and celebration.
Formed in the heart of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, the collective is dedicated to crafting vibrant soundscapes around honest narratives that reflect their community's sacred humanity. Each song is an ancestral echo, a battle cry calling for freedom, an unending dance for justice and joy, welcoming all of the diaspora HOME.
The New Renaissance: Ancestors Rising: Ascension. The New Renaissance presents ANCESTORS RISING: ASCENSION theater production! If you'd like to experience the magic, save the date for bigger and better at the Northrop Auditorium on Saturday, February 22 2025.
Based in Minneapolis, Joe tours internationally to join schools, faith spaces, nonprofits, and businesses to practice envisioning and embodying a world of collective liberation and human flourishing. His work employs poetry, music, theater and dance to shape culture. Connecting with audiences as a keynote speaker, facilitator, and teaching artist, Joe also heads a multimedia production company, a soul funk band, and a racial justice education program. He holds a Master's degree in Theology of the Arts.