Verb, Flow & Vision with Paul Willis

Chelsea, MA No. 22 -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wgbh.org/culture/2025-04-25/boston-based-artist-creates-hip-hop-leadership-curriculum">Paul Willis&nbsp;</a>- youth focused arts education professional headlines out show at our&nbsp;NEW SPACE&nbsp;Spencer Gallery Lofts!&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/brynna_boyd/">Brynna Boyd</a>&nbsp;features and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/yess_maa/">&nbsp;Essmaa Litim</a>&nbsp;hosts! We are joined by artists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/artmatters36568/">Towana Wright</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/chelseabotanicals/">Chelsea Botanicals,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sladja_pottery/">Pottery by Sladja</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chelseabotanicals/">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaleeldraws/">Jaleel Davis!</a> This event is all about building community through creativity and raising spirits through poetry and art. Everyone is welcome. As our community is in need especially now and especially around the holidays, please bring canned goods or other non-perishable items that will donate to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/202189162032104/">Chelsea Micro Pantry</a>. 📆 Saturday, Nov. 22nd ⌚️Doors at 7:30pm/show at 8:00pm -9:30pm; followed by mingling and music until 11:00pm. 📍Spencer Lofts Gallery 60 Dudley Street, Chelsea, MA 02150 🎫Tickets: $15.00; Open Mic Poets free: Spoken Word, Vocalists, Musicians all welcome. Please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:devra@chelseacitystudio.com">devra@chelseacitystudio.com</a>&nbsp;for more information. 🅿️ Free street parking ABOUT OUR HEADLINER: Paul Willis' latest work is defining the ABC’s of rap with an album, book, and curriculum offering on Hip Hop Leadership. Since July 2023, Paul has been awarded multiple grants to complete the Hip Hop Leadership album, book and curriculum, which he piloted with Beat The Odds - Boston, a creative youth development nonprofit organization, Conservatory Lab Charter School, Neighborhood House Charter School, and with Frugal Bookstore through a series of author talks and community events. When he’s not in the classroom or the studio, you can find him on stage speaking, performing, or working behind the scenes with creative leaders and organizations that are aligned with his mission, vision, and values. If you’re a fan of Talib Kweli, Black Thought and Common, then you’ll love Paul Willis’ music and message. ABOUT OUR FEATURE: Brynna Boyd (she/her) is a writer from Texas, currently based in Boston. She has always had a love for writing and has found community through sharing her work at slams, open mics, and local writing groups. Brynna teaches middle school and finds great joy in helping students explore their creative power! Her writing is informed by her lived experiences, readings, musings of better worlds, and the everyday. ABOUT HOUR HOST: Essmaa Litim is a dynamic storyteller, community builder, and cultural curator whose work lives at the intersection of art and activism. She uses the power of her spoken word poetry to ignite conversations around justice, equity, and healing. She has performed in spaces like SOB’s in NYC, WGBH, Puma, Sofar Sounds, and Voices in Power at City Winery. Her latest piece, “The Laundromat”, which highlights gentrification in her neighborhood of East Boston, was published in the anthology How We Take Up Space by Nakia Hill in 2024. Essmaa has taken her love of writing to community and educational spaces where she’s hosted writing workshops at Tufts University, Bentley University, and with Boston-based community organizations. These spaces are more than a creative outlet—they are sanctuaries for truth-telling, resistance, and collective growth. With a fierce commitment to liberation through language, she nurtures new generations of storytellers, equipping them with the tools to speak boldly and unapologetically. ABOUT OUR ARTISTS: Towana Deann Wright was born in Mobile, Alabama. Although she moved from Alabama at an early age, the impact and the culture of the south would remain influential and serve as artistic inspiration for much of her work and shape her as an artist. After getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Towana pursued a lifelong dream and attained an MFA in Creative writing. She graduated in 2015 and went on to participate in several prestigious workshops and residencies including traveling to Oxford University. Her passion for writing and artistic expression found its way to the canvas where she has blossomed and delighted many with her colorful and dynamic signature pieces. Being a self-taught artist, Towana takes pride in embracing her local artist community. They have offered tremendous encouragement and support. Artist and entrepreneurs have welcomed her into their close-knit circle. She is forever grateful. Towana enjoys using her art in many forms including T-shirts and notecards. Her notecards can be found at “All That Matters Antiques” in Belmont, MA. Sladja Vukovic is a creative soul who finds beauty in every form of art and expression. A self-taught painter and lifelong writer, she has been crafting poetry since her teenage years and has self-published two books (one in Bosnia and, more recently, her first English collection). A lifelong lover of literature, she is book-obsessed and deeply appreciative of all forms of writing, with a dream of one day owning a cozy bookstore filled with all kinds of art. Her latest passion is pottery, where she creates functional yet artful pieces that bring warmth and personality into homes. With a background in Psychology and Criminal Justice, it somehow feels fitting that her full-time work is in real estate—connecting people, spaces, and stories in ways that make life more beautiful and meaningful." Jaleel Davis Artist Statement: Hi, my name is Jaleel Davis. I come from Somerville, MA. My work has been in exhibited in the Wellin Museum in Clinton, NY.I specialize in portraiture creating original paintings with impactful use of color, expression, and composition. I have been drawing since I was 5 years old drawing from how-to draw books drawing characters from my favorite cartoons.&nbsp;My focus as an artist has always been improving my skills in visualizing the world around me. My use of oil paint translates into my practice of digital art. My art focuses on culture, music, society, and the emotions and feelings we go through as people every day. Art has given me a voice and I utilize my passion to reflect on society through my own lens. Portraits speak to you and gives you a feeling of relatability. I was blessed to study Fine Art and Economics at Hamilton College where I graduated in 2019. My passion for art has only grown through my education in drawing, painting, photography and ceramics. It will never fade and I will always draw.&nbsp;

Spencer Lofts Gallery

Clark Ave Creative

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

Verb, Flow & Vision with Paul Willis

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