BONUS: On Freedom with NC Poet Laureate with Jaki Shelton Green

On July 4th, 2025 I had the honor of interviewing North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. She is the first poet laureate of North Carolina and an amazing woman who’s dedicated her life to witnessing truth and documenting it in her poetry. When NorthStar Church of the Arts reached out for me to facilitate the conversation I was nervous to be in discussion with such an icon yet excited. I’ve been attending events at NorthStar since 2022 and it’s become a third space for me. A place where I can go and always see someone I know. A creative sanctuary that welcomes all of me and expands my imagination. A respite. So it was an easy yes to be apart of the NorthStar legacy by participating in one of their community events. I’m really excited for you all to hear listen in on Jaki and I’s conversation. We talked about community care, what black autonomy means, her experiences following and documenting the movements of the KKK, writing tips, and so much more. And while this is the audio version, you can watch the video here on Youtube as well.I really enjoyed being in conversation with Jaki and the community members who came out to support and I know you will hear that through the audio. This is one you’ll want to take notes on. Enjoy. Subscribe on Substack to be notified first about new episodes and receive the accompanying newsletters that reflect on the podcast episodes!🌀 Remember to like, comment, and rate wherever you listen to this podcast to help us reach more listeners!Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Spotify✏️ Connect with Jaki Shelton Green:https://jakisheltongreen.com/about-jaki/⛪️ Connect with NorthStar Church of the Arts:https://www.northstardurham.com👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/alyssacuffie.comwomanifestomag.com☕️ Support the Pod:https://ko-fi.com/alwhyssa✏️ Additional Details:Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon GrantRecorded at NorthStar Church of the Arts in Durham Get full access to The Durham Artist Archive at durhamartistarchive.substack.com/subscribe