EDUCATOR. POET. COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
"Be Ready Every Amazing Thing Happens Eventually. In other words, BREATHE."
Jakeel uses his knowledge, experience, and creative outlets to teach, educate and expose people to different perspectives in hopes to promote social and personal awareness. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Residential Student Experience at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO).
RECENT FEATURES/APPEARANCES
Upward Bound @ Long Beach City College
Summer Bridge Workshop Series @ University of Califronia, Irvine
UMOJA Porch Talk @ MiraCosta College
Social Justice Digital Symposium @ MiraCosta College
SPOKEN WORD POETRY
Writing poems to heal, healing to write poems.
Poetry is vulnerability in its greatest art form! Writing has been a coping mechanism, a healing method, self-care activity, and way for Jakeel to express himself to the world. In 2006, he started writing poetry after watching performances on the hit television show, Def Poetry Jam. Fascinated by the wordplay, display of emotions, and connection to the audience that was shown in the episodes, a love for poetry was sparked. In 2012, Jakeel took the stage for the first time at MiraCosta College performing his art. Since then, he has been sought out to perform his poetry at various events, venues, and college campuses all throughout the United States.
Identifying where an individual may be at in the understanding, acceptance, and healing of their continued lived experiences can help them decide what areas in their life needs more attention (in regard to healing), which areas need more validation (in regard to affirming oneself), and which areas need to be explored (in regard to gaining clarity). The culmination of intentionally engaging within each of these different components leads to personal growth.
TELL ME ABOUT IT W/ JAKEEL
Tell Me About It with Jakeel is a podcast that seeks to provide insight into the various educational experiences of students of color. The podcast highlights the work and experiences of educators of color, placing specific emphasis on those from Black backgrounds. The podcast seeks to connect to listeners and expose them to the various issues that people of color face while attending, working, and existing within higher education systems.
