QUEEN - (... for NPM) When the world echoes sounds that would keep us down Poetry sends back refrains that say Let me lift you Let me give you insight to light your way Unravel mysteries Cope with life's inconsistencies Comprehend that uncertainty paves the road we all travel Let me share ancestors' truths With youth and elder alike-- Share with true seekers answers that empower Let not the fear of this hour rob the world this cherished light or deny tomorrow it's victory This is the charge of poetry For this she shall ever reign supreme as Queen!    ___________________________________________________ SOJOURN WITH WORDS CABLE TV PROGRAM  Friends in the DC/MD/VA area are invited to join me each week for Sojourn With Words, the award-winning cable television program I produce and host.  The program features poets (interviews and performance/readings) and poetry news.  Sojourn with Words, which premiered in 2006,  has won national awards (2 Telly Awards: 2007 & 2012) for excellence in cultural programming, and airs on CTV, (Comcast Ch. 76 and Verizon FiOS Ch. 42).  Our current schedule is: Thursday - 11:30 AM and 6:30 PM Saturday - 6:30 PM   To check for schedule changes visit. http://www.pgctv.org/tv-schedule/ _________________________________________   INSPIRATION STATEMENT  As a poet, I seek to uplift, empower and offer paths to peace through poetry.  I believe that taking poetry to the community is a means to that end. Life, family, community and God (not necessarily in that order) are my sources of inspiration. Influences include Gwendolyn Brooks, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Rev. & Mrs. Benjamin H. Craig, my immediate and extended families, my Collective Voices family, as well as my Anointed P.E.N.S. (Ebenezer A.M.E.) and Annie's Art Gallery families.                                     _____________________________________________                   To view photos from past events visit Photo Gallery at Sistahjoy.com.  https://www.sistahjoy.com/photo-gallery *             Please email me your response to or reviews of my poetry, events and articles posted here.  I'm always interested in hearing feedback and ideas that my work inspires.  Thank you!   J. Joy Matthews Alford - Sistah Joy LISTEN TO: Sistah Joy's interview with April Sims and Poetry Man on BlogTalkRadio at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=27940 Sistah Joy's interview with Jonathan Holley on Give God The Glory on BlogTalkRadio at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/JesusHouseofPraise/2007/11/29/g _____________________________                                                        

Appointed Poet Laureate of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in April 2016;

Recipient, DC Poet Laureate Special Award (2002) "for her outstanding contribution to the art of poetry in Washington, D.C."


Recipient, CTV CAM Award (2011) - Best Host - Sojourn With Words

Recipient, CTV CAM Award (2014) - Entertainment - 1st Place



Author -

"Lord I'm Dancin' As Fast As I Can"
"From Pain To Empowerment - The Fabric of My Being"
"This Garden Called Life"


International Performance Debut - London, 1997 (International Women's Conference).

Poet in Residence at Annie's Art Gallery - Camp Springs, MD (2007 - 2016)

Poet in Residence as well as originator and host of Verse, Vibes & Bites poetry soiree, (2002-2007) at Downtown DC Barnes & Noble Books.

Producer and Host of Sojourn With Words, award-winning (2 Telly Awards: 2007 & 2012) poetry-based weekly cable television program

Founder of Collective Voices, (Washington, DC ensemble of African-American poets),

Poet Laureate of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church & President of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church Poetry Ministry, whose members are known as The Anointed P.E.N.S. (Poets Empowered to Nurture Souls)

Board Member, C.A.A.P.A., Inc. (Coalition of African-Americans in the Performing Arts)


Former editor, (5 years) A.C.E. Dialogue Literary Magazine

President, Toastmasters, Int'l., FCC Chapter #345(1985-1986)

President, Upper Northwest Chapter, Federally Employed Women (F.E.W., Inc.) (1994-1995)

Diversity Chair - DC Metro Region F.E.W., Inc. (1996-1997)