Our Story
Who Are We?
We are a poetry platform and community collective that works to promote mental health and well-being through the art of poetry and spoken word by creating safe spaces for voices to be heard.
What Do We Do?
We provide a platform for Poets, Writers and Lovers of the art to share their stories and their art. In our program we aim to bridge the gap between experience and meaning by facilitating mental health Q&A discussions with Professionals in the community, providing food service, mental health games, free wellness raffle gifts, and live music for a wholistic experience.
Where Are We Located?
We’ve Got Something To Say (W.G.S.T.S) is based in downtown Bridgeport, CT. Soon to be in a city near you!
When Were We Born?
In January of 2023, (W.G.S.T.S) sold out their first 3 intimate, poetry events with 30 people, in what used to be a small cigar lounge at the award winning restaurant, 29 Markle Ct.
Why Do We Do This?
The aim of (W.G.S.T.S) is to use the art of poetry and spoken word as a tool to encourage attendees to find their voice, aid in confidence building and self expression, and provide skills and resources that allow attendees to become conscious of ways to combat negative affects of life stressors that disrupt one's mental health, well-being, and creativity.
There is no right or wrong way to feel or heal and we are a support along the way. We aim to be real, not perfect, reminding ourselves and attendees that we are on this journey of personal growth collectively.
Our Founder
Who Is She?
A Writer since 9 years old, Norwalk, CT's very own Sahmra Sawyer has grown into a Spoken Word Poet, Performer, and Mental Health Advocate better known as Supreme Divinity.
Sahmra’s Beginnings
With both Caribbean and Southern roots, Sahmra grew up around a large family of Musicians and Singers where gospel and reggae became rhythmic connections to spirituality, culture, and philosophy early on in her development. Attuned to her senses and the love of music and words, she began to follow whatever made her ponder and feel. This would be the catalyst for her becoming in the later years of young adulthood.
Sahmra discovered her love for words at just 9 years old. What started out as journaling, turned into poetry after she was introduced by her former Fourth Grade Teacher, Morgan Mazza. She wrote almost daily up until middle school. After stumbling across old journals from her adolescence in her senior year of high school, she rediscovered her passion for writing. "The timing couldn't have been more divine, journaling was much needed at the time."
"Am I a Poet?"
In 2022 Sahmra obtained her Bachelors in Psychology from UConn where she was intrigued by epigenetics and brain changes due to oppression and harsh conditions.
Attending UConn In 2019, she began working with a culture and wellness organization called SōlHaus, founded by Demetrius Glover, where she recited her original poetry for the first time aloud on topics around spiritual liberation at one of their events in downtown Stamford, CT. She was later asked to MC for their culture and wellness events where people began to ask if she was a Poet. "I think I'm a Poet." and so she would be...
During her undergraduate studies she interned with Connecticut College Corps as a Poetry Teacher at Side By Side Charter School in Norwalk, CT, was featured in Edition 1 of Write On, Black Girl! (WOBG), and was a contributing Author in Surviving During A Pandemic: Reflections From Around the World, published by DioPress, where she shared her original poems and reflections during COVID-19.
Her journey would began and continue where she would connect with other Poets in the tri-state making appearances at her former grade schools and youth organizations, the Bijou Theatre, FOX 61 News, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Theatre Works Hartford, Nublu NYC, Bowery Poetry, and Brooklyn Poets.
Why Mental Health & Why Poetry?
"When you can name something, you can tame it." Sahmra has used poetry as a tool to help her navigate uncomfortable feelings of her own, following personal life experiences which she shares with readers and listeners during recitations. She finds comfort and enlightenment from discovering lessons and blessings in disguise through her poems, faith, and self care regimens. "It keeps me connected to myself and my inner ear, It keeps me connected to my roots and what's real. Finding meaning through words can free one's mind, it can heal one's heart."
Her Mission
Keen to the historic and systemic impact on the mind and body of oppressed communities, Sahmra is passionate about promoting mental health through both clinical practice and creative expression. Currently she is pursuing a career as a Clinician, attending Fairfield University as a second year MSW student.
At (W.G.S.T.S), she intends to keep this historic form of art alive, using spoken word as a vehicle to drive the culture into creative ways of regulating the mind and freeing the spirit while building solidarity through discussions and storytelling. In addition, she hopes to connect individuals and communities with culturally inclusive resources that revives and equips them with new skills and a heightened sense of self needed for longevity, well-being, and internal balance.
Meet Sahmra Face To Face Right Here!
