Meet the founder
Background
Sahmra K. Sawyer, MSW '26 A Writer since 9 years old, Norwalk, CT's very own Sahmra Sawyer has grown into a Spoken Word Poet and Mental Health Advocate better known as Supreme Divinity. Sahmra’s BeginningsWith both Caribbean and Southern roots, Sahmra grew up around a large family, some of whom were Musicians and Singers where gospel and reggae became rhythmic connections to spirituality, culture, and philosophy early on in her upbringing and 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?"
Experience Becomes Expression
In 2022 Sahmra obtained her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from UConn where she was intrigued by epigenetics and brain changes due to oppression and harsh human 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.
All About Me
"When you can name something, you can tame it, the evidence is in how far we've come." 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.
Keen to the historic and systemic impact on the mind and body of oppressed communities, her curiosity in pursuing social work grew where she would commit to the mission to heal and revive. She became inspired by the knowledge she obtained surrounding community, resilience, and most importantly...change. Sahmra is passionate about promoting mental health through both clinical practice and creative expression, where healing and quality of life are accessible and digestible for all.
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 ancient and 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. She hopes to build solidarity through community and storytelling to foster safety and connection.In addition, it is her aim to use her clinical expertise to connect individuals and communities with culturally inclusive and adaptive resources that help revive and equip community members with the interpersonal skills needed for a positive and strong sense of self and a long life of mental health, well-being, authenticity, and creativity.
Why Mental Health & Poetry?
Her Mission
