Performer/Director/Teaching Artist

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I write to awaken

I believe poetry is more than art — it is legacy, testimony, and a mirror held up to our times. As a Spoken Word poet, performer, and community builder, my mission is to create spaces where truth can breathe and where people feel seen, heard, and empowered through creative expression.

Leah Joy Pearson aka MayaRose

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My Work

I am the executive producer and performer of They Are Not Disposable, a Racial Justice multimedia Spoken Word play developed with support from the CT Theatre Exchange. Through this project, I use poetry, narrative, and multimedia storytelling to confront systemic injustice and honor the lives too often dismissed or erased. Staged readings have been presented at Shakesperience Productions in Waterbury, engaging audiences in powerful dialogue and reflection.

Community Leadership

Community is at the heart of everything I do. I host Speak Your Mind on Spectrum Channel 192, a community access television show that brings together poets, storytellers, writers, and advocates to celebrate creativity across Connecticut. I believe every voice has power — and that sharing those voices builds bridges, fosters dialogue, and heals communities.

I’ve facilitated writing workshops and performances at CT Folk Fest, CT Riverview Music Fest (Shelton), Poetry in Motion, Piece of Mind Poetry, and through multiple Arts Alliance of Woodbury initiatives. I am committed to diversity-focused artistic programming and to nurturing intergenerational connections through storytelling and performance.

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Teaching & Mentorship

I spent two years teaching and directing theatre for at-risk girls of color with the nonprofit S.G.O.F in Waterbury, using creativity as a tool for confidence, healing, and personal agency. I continue to mentor young creatives and emerging Spoken Word artists across the state.

Publications & Media

I am the author of Poems from My Broken Heart: Expressions on the Spiral of Life, a collection exploring grief, resilience, and transformation. My past performances and new work can be viewed on my YouTube channel, MayaRoseSpokenWord.

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My Purpose

I believe in the power of the arts to ignite change, preserve history, and strengthen community. Through performance, storytelling, and creative leadership, my goal is to bring people together — to awaken awareness, celebrate diversity, and remind us all that our voices matter.

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Not Disposable: A Play

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