The Poet & The People
The Poet & The People is a space for influential artists, creatives, activists and community advocates and people on the edge of Saint Louis culture. The Poet & The People podcast will bring about intimate conversation around creativity, art, social issues and authenticity with people who make Saint Louis culture what it is today. Hosted by Gregory Maurice, poet and creative, he will take you through a series of interviews with people that he has come across in some capacity of the arts or community.
The Poet & The People
Aja La'Starr Owens: Poetry + Politics + Becoming an Author + Mental Health + LGBTQI
Poet, Author and former Councilwoman Aja La’Starr Owens sits down with Gregory Maurice for a conversation that spans across what struggles she had to face while running to be the City of Jennings Councilwoman and her efforts to bring change by having conversations first with Saint Louis County Police Dept and the residents. Aja shared a story of how she was influenced by her aunt to start writing books and doing poetry at a young age. Performing poetry and becoming the poetry facilitator of Poetry For Personal Power, it led her to place her voice on community change to become an councilwoman for the City of Jennings. The conversation touched on multiple points from her early poetry books to doing a youth workshop on getting kids published to the struggles of some spaces among the LGBTQI+ community. Aja talks about her journey around Saint Louis and talked about her children’s book that is spreading fast across the country.
Audio Clip Played: https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2023-11-17/lisa-clancy-says-st-louis-county-is-facing-tough-budget-decisions-with-a-40-million-deficit