We recently connected with BeeYonka and have shared our conversation below.

BeeYonka, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I let my creativity loose around the peak of COVID. I remember waking up one day and realizing I’m set for life: I had a great paying job in a career that I felt came almost natural to me, I had great rapport with people in my life, and everything was just lining up in the best ways. But it wasn’t enough. I didn’t feel fulfilled. Although I was grateful for being an educator during such trying times, it wasn’t making me happy. I felt my depth was diminishing. Then I got COVID and my perspective on “tomorrow’ changed. This was the official challenge that if I’m going to show up for myself and jump into the unknown, I’m doing it in fear as long as I’m doing it. I picked up my poetry notebook and just starting writing about my healing.

My poetry reflects my story, the story of my ancestors, and carries a history for generations to come. I like to think as soon as we’re born, we become ancestors in training, and keeping that in mind makes me want to keep the indigenous dream alive. The dream of being heard and seen without warfare.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is BeeYonka and I’m a creative. I speak my truth through various platforms like music, writing, poetry, and spoken word. I love to write about healing and the indigenous because I was so ashamed of my roots growing up. As a child, I learned a very important lesson from adversity: even though you know your roots, sometimes the same water your culture feeds you is the same water that drowns you.

I never knew how to go and grow through my trauma and I naturally gravitated towards music and writing. I actually never knew spoken word was a type of platform until my senior year in high school and ever since I fell in love. I found a way to make everything in my soul make sense. It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I realized it’s time to share my healing with the world because I know I’m not the only one in my suffering.

That’s where “The Dope Poets Society” on Patreon comes in. I’ve created a platform that is catered to community members who want to help identify their inner healing and simply grow. I wanted to create something accessible and comfortable for people to invest in. Even though it’s my platform, it’s our society and I emphasize how important inclusivity is. “The Dope Poets Society” has 3 subscription tiers that range from $5USD to $15USD: The Canvas, The Muse, and The Artist. These three tiers differ from beginner to advance poetic strategies and fundamentals that is catered for the artist in you. Whether you want to journal and find a way to feel safe in your own being or want to perform and get some tips and tricks, the society got you! Together we help each other grow as creatives but most importantly help emphasize unity.

“The Dope Poets Society” is still a growing platform and is currently in its start up phase as of right now, but the amount of reviews and feedback I’ve been getting has been amazing! I hold monthly workshops that are theme centric and testimonials and artist critique has been surprising. Although I know people everywhere are healing and hurting, it’s so endearing to know they trust the society and the people in this specific space to just let go of everything that was holding them hostage. Art is such a beautiful thing regardless of how chaotic it looks and I’m glad I’m able to share this platform with anyone who wants to show up for themselves with intention.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve recently created my first vision board and WOW! It taught me when you become intentional with how you want to live your life, the clarity is so unreal! I’ve always had a goal to publish my first poetry book and to be able to facilitate workshops in different places around the world. As much as poetry is about the performing aspect of it, I appreciate what happens behind the scenes more. I enjoy all the details that goes into a production of a project and how many people you can involve! Maybe it’s the OCD or ADHD or Virgo in me talking but being present every step of the way before I hit the stage is what motivates me to eventually do book signings and host workshops.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Most of my life I have been insecure. But to be honest, who hasn’t? As a mixed woman who’s also curvy and basically the black sheep of my family, I just always felt like an afterthought when I was around people. Because of the way I was perceived, I just didn’t have the confidence I needed to sustain my talents so I always would quit due to the fear of being rejected. I figured if I quit, it wouldn’t feel the same way as I do now.

As an individual now growing into my own skin (finally), I always keep in mind that little girl in me who I bet is so proud that I did something about all that negativity. The inner child who gets to be raised the way she needed, not the way she had to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bee.yonkaaa
• Other: patreon.com/beeyonka https://www.gigsalad.com/beeyonka_antioch1