Meet Ashley Cornelius | Spoken Word Poet & Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Cornelius and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is authenticity. I believe there is deep power in a Black woman sharing her emotions openly, because Black women’s voices and emotions have historically been oppressed. I find that sharing the inspiration, struggles, and joys behind my poetry opens me up for deep conversations and connections. I work hard to normalize mental health and art was a modality for healing. I aim to discuss topics and themes that might make people uncomfortable but inevitable will help those who need it grow and will make those who have similar lived experiences feel seen. As much as I love to share the struggles I’ve experienced, I believe another element of my success if sharing my humor and humanity. With artists or people in the public eye, it’s easy to only see them through their art, but I love to show all sides of myself. Humor is a powerful way to build relationships and share in humanity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been writing for most of my life. The typical poems you write in school, then the inevitable break-up poems, but I never took it public. I spent a few years going to open mics with my notebook, sitting in the back, anxious, and never getting up to perform. I worked as the program director of an Arts Nonprofit that provided creative empowerment programs for youth in Denver. We held poetry workshops to support creative self-expression and emotion regulation. I was surrounded by incredible guest poets and young people and saw first hand how powerful art could be for someone’s healing. I wanted to be able to inspire and share my own story as a Black woman and find a way to go deeper into others healing. Becoming a therapist ( LPCC) allowed me to focus on healing and understand how to use poetry therapeutically. Artistically, I began performing more at open mics, then started booking events as the feature , and briefly got into the slam competition scene and competed nationally as the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2018. I realized slam or competition poetry wasn’t for me and focused more on preforming and sharing my message. I realized people who may have never listened to me because of my race and gender were understanding my perspective and giving me space to share. I found that poetry and performance were in part how I wanted to affect change. I begin addressing topics like racism, myosin, rape culture, colorism, systemic oppression and so forth and it took off. I was able to fill a need for art and activist. Looking back, largely I was so nervous to perform at other open mics because the content I was writing about didn’t match the vibe of the events. After creating Poetry719 with Christopher Beasley and Phil Curtis we began intentionally creating space for these topics and filling spaces with diverse groups so that others could feel safe sharing and expressing themselves. I’ve learned to take risks and be vulnerable. I now recognize the angry person who didn’t like your poem is a marker that you’re on to something. I often field comments about race in my work and it’s shown me that making people uncomfortable is a portal for growth and I am able to help people grown and inform with a poem. My brand of poetry is authentic, unapologetically angry, funny, and vulnerable. I want to be a Black Woman who is openly about her emotions if only to make space for others to feel safe to share and live authentically. I aim to build connection and validate experiences that don’t get discussed like topics around mental health. I am a therapist and have been able to use poetry as a modality of healing and conversely use poetry to connect people to therapy and reduce the stigma around seeking help.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would have to start the day with a cup of coffee from Pikes Perk, Coffee Exchange or solar Roast. We’d have to visit the garden of the gods, explore Manitou Springs and the penny arcades. Head to the fine arts center, and take a hike around Bear Creek. We’d grab lunch or dinner at Thai Mint one of my favorite local Thai restaurants. For drinks we could go to IvyWild, Brooklyn’s on Boulder, or Pig Latin. We’d explore First Friday and hear local music, check out galleries and experience the art scene. Definitely go to a play put on by a local theater like Funky Little Theater Company, Black Box Theater, or a production at UCCS. An open mic put on at Bar K or by Poery719 is a must. For souvenirs, we’d go to Ladyfingers Letterpress for amazing products and gifts.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out and show deep love for the poetry community, the communities of color, and the queer community of Colorado Springs. These communities believed in me first and helped develop my artistic skills and gave me platforms to perform. I will always be grateful for the way art has saved me and provided a chosen family that has encouraged and supported me from the start. Poetry719 the art group I am the co-director of allowed me to engage with all of these communities from the side of an organizer and give back to those who have been there for me. Deep love to everyone who performs and volunteers for Poetry719, I am so honored to be a part of a creative community and hold space for art. Special thanks to my partner Christopher Beasley for all the support and encouragement to take my poetry further than I have imagined. As well as my parents who have always believed in the power of my voice.

Website: www.poetry719.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accpoetrynow/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-cornelius-31566316b
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Accpoetry

Image Credits
Wandering Willow Photography Jenna Kempton Chantal Cruz Mandy Middleton