INTRODUCES US ASHLEY JONES. CARLA: -- >>>> SO CONFIDENT, INTELLIGENT, THOUGHTFUL, COMPASSIONATE, AND AWARE. I THINK SHE HAS HELPED MAKE OUR STUDENTS MORE AWARE. CARLA: THAT’S HOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD DESCRIBE ASHLEY AND HER WRITING BUT IT IS THROUGH POETRY THATHE S DEFINES AND DESCRIBES HERSELF. >> I WOULD SAY MY POETRY IS ME SPREAD ONTO A PAGE. ATTH MEANS IT IS HONEST, PERSONAL, I WRITE A LOT ABOUT HISTORY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE JUST MY EXPERIENCE AS A WOMAN. I TRIED TO BE ACCESSIBLE ABOVE ALL ELSE. CARLA: SHE WILL TRELHEAV STATE , SPEAKING AT SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IN A TIME WHEN MANY STUDENTS WERE RECENTLY INSPIRED BY ANOTHER POWERFUL YOUNG POET. >> POEYTR IS SOMETHING THAT DOES STIR US AND GIVE US HOPE AND HELP US ASK THOSE QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE POLITICCAS NNOT. FOR ME, THAT WAS AMAZING TO SEE AND TO SEE A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN DOING IT, THATAS W AMAZING. TO SEE HER PRESENT SO WELL AND TO REPRESENT US SO WELL. CARLA: SHE RECITED HER FIRST EMPO IN GRADE SCHOOL, DRESSED AS ABOLITIONIST PERRY TUBMAN. DR. SAAG:> > WHEN I RECITED THE POEM, I FELT SETOMHING CHANGED INE. M I FELT LIKE THIS WAS A POWER I ALWAYS WANTED TO FEEL. MY VCEOI MATTERED AND I JUST CLUNG TO THAT FEELING AND CAP WRITING POETRY. I KEPT STUDYING AT ALLHRGH T HIGH SCHOOL. COLLEGE AT UAB AND FLORIDA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND I TEACH IT SO IT HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOREVER. CARLA: AFTER DABBLG ININ THE POETRY SEEN IN MIAMI, >> I STARTED TO REALIZE THERISE A LOT I LOVE AUTBO BEING A SOUTHERNER CARLA:. SHE RETUEDRN TO HER ROOTS IN MAGIC CITY POEYTR FESTIVAL AND TEACHES CREATIVE WRITING AT THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS. >> WITH THAT ENEYRG IN MIND, I CAME BACK AND HAVE PGGLUED IN EVER SINCE LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GEAT JOB AT THE GREATEST PLACE EVER. I’VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AND IT’S BEEN REALLY AMAZING THERE’S KIND OF A RENAISSANCE GOING O IN, THINK, IN OUR CITY WITH THE ARTS, AND SO I’M JUST GLAD I WAS ABLE TO COME BACK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. CARLA: CARLA WADE, WVT