Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 11-16-18

Feature
Women Will Celebrate Their Untold Stories At ‘Pinot And Poetry’
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Growing up, words were more than a way for Jomil Bell to express ideas; it was “therapy.”
“Poetry has always been my out- let,” she said. “Poetry has always been the best way for me to describe how I feel in the most intimate way.”
Bell, the founder of creative plat- form Hive Over Matter, knows per- sonally the power that words have to help and heal. So when the former Detroit native moved to Tampa a few years ago, she set about finding a community of women poets and spo- ken-word artists.
She didn’t have to go far, as Tampa’s poetry and spoken-word scene was thriving, Bell said.
“I chose poetry because I hap- pened to find a community here that was giving life to people,” she said.
That effort has led to Pinot and Poetry, which will take place this
the untold stories of women and their impact on our lives.”
“I just wanted to create a space that says ‘your voice is sacred...if you can, express it in any way that has value,’” she said.
The award is what Bell calls a $500 “life scholarship.” It’s the same amount of money her brother loaned her when she started Hive Over Mat- ter, selling t-shirts with inspirational messages. Just as her brother be- lieved in her, Bell said she wants to pay it forward to other creative women who, like her, are trying to launch their dreams.
Or, they could be women who, as Bell did, wanted to study writing as a craft, but instead were steered to a more traditional path.
Whatever their vision, the winner can use the money to help fulfill that purpose, said Bell, a marketing pro- fessional.
“That experience opened up the door and opportunity and confirmed
that what I was doing was valuable,” she said. “This $500 that I give away could be that opportunity for them.”
If You Go
Pinot and Poetry featuring the “Herstory Poetry Award” and Life Scholarship will begin at 6 p. m., Sat- urday at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, 2005 N. Lamar Ave. Food and merchandise vendors will be on site. For more information, visit www.hiveovermatter.org.
JOMIL BELL ...Will present “Herstory Poetry Award”
Saturday (November 17th) at the Tampa Heights Civic Association. It’s a celebration of women poets, one of whom will walk away with the “Herstory Poetry Award” after sub- mitting entries online that “celebrate
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