Welcome!
The poems in this beautifully bound book are a result of over twenty years of observations. Observations of the world around us and on the telecommunications network. All of the hate, love, heroism, disasters, and those who help. Beautiful
He gave me a Word, ...and my soul gave birth to poetry! I have tried to share it with the world.
Background
Information
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!
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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/
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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.
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To view photos from past events visit Photo Gallery at Sistahjoy.com. https://www.sistahjoy.com/photo-gallery
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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
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Birth Place
Washington, DC USA
Accomplishments
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