The Hustle
Years in Tampa Bay
35
Hustle (job)
Poet/Executive Director and Founder of Keep St. Pete Lit
What do you do?
I strive to expand the literary arts in St. Petersburg (and beyond), through education, collaborations, readings, and creative events. I write poetry for performance and the page. I am the mother of an 11 yeard old daughter.
Why do you do it?
Reading and writing saved my life. I get to share that gratitude and devotion with to my local community and hopefully inspire lives in the process. I believe wholeheartedly in power of literature to change the world.
What was your Catalyst? (How did you get started?)
I felt there wasn’t a larger literary dialogue going on in St. Pete/Tampa Bay. I don’t believe you can have a thriving arts community without a strong literary component. As a reader and writer I wasn’t getting my needs met, so I created a reality in which I would want to participate and live in as a creative.
What’s a common misconception or unknown aspect of what you do?
That being a poet really helps with managing a non-profit. The poet’s mindset takes a really big idea and then immediately distills it into the most efficient and effective way of executing it. (At least that’s my experience.) This helps so much with running a sustainable organization.
What’s the most challenging part of your Hustle?
Balancing everything, so my own writing practice doesn’t disappear.
What’s the most valuable piece of business advice/insight that’s helped you?
Learn as much as you can then take what works for you and leave the rest. Follow your intuition.
