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Paulina O'Kieffe-Anthony>> Finding Your Voice: From Spoken Word to Community Empowerment
Step into the vibrant world of arts advocacy with award-winning curator, educator, and spoken word poet Paulina O'Keefe-Anthony. From her first nervous performance at age 18 to becoming a powerful voice championing equity in the arts, Paulina shares the remarkable journey that's taken her from Toronto community centers to international stages.
"Poetry can take you everywhere," Paulina reveals as she unpacks how spoken word became her gateway to community building and artistic expression. With refreshing candor, she describes the parallel paths she's traveled—developing as a performance artist while simultaneously building expertise in arts administration and nonprofit work. These intertwined journeys eventually led to her creating Creative Compass Solutions alongside her husband, a consulting firm that has secured over $1 million in funding for arts organizations.
At the heart of Paulina's work lies a passionate commitment to opening doors for historically marginalized artists. She offers valuable insights into the grant application process while acknowledging the systemic challenges of limited arts funding. Her work with the Toronto Arts Council's Black Arts Granting Program demonstrates her dedication to creating holistic support systems that go beyond simply providing money—offering mentorship, space, and community connections that emerging artists desperately need.
Perhaps most powerful is Paulina's honest reflection on burnout and self-care. After experiencing job loss and the sudden death of her father in 2023, she made the difficult decision to step back, spending 30 days in Trinidad to heal. This transformative experience taught her the importance of setting boundaries and making space for personal wellbeing—a lesson she continues to practice since returning home.
For young creatives and entrepreneurs, Paulina offers three gems of wisdom: jump fearlessly into your passions while you're young; build infrastructure around your dreams early; and believe fiercely in yourself, even when doubts creep in. True to her poet's heart, she reminds us that "doing the work" means practicing your craft when nobody's watching and strengthening not just your professional skills, but yourself as a whole person.
Join us for this inspiring conversation that illuminates the power of artistic expression to create meaningful change in ourselves and our communities. Connect with Paulina through LinkedIn or visit speakuppodcast.ca to learn more about our programs and upcoming episodes.
You can reach Paulina O'Kieffe-Anthony using the following platforms:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinaokieffeanthony/?originalSubdomain=ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinaokieffe/
Website: paulinaokieffe.com
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Published on 5 months, 1 week ago