Thursday, February 9 @ 7 pm EST
Black History Month Panel
Our writers panel offered the unique the perspectives of our young, local poets on their heritage and experiences as black youth in Barrie, and what Black History Month means to them. Watch to see how we reacted to an uninvited guest who joined us during Open Mic, where we experienced some real local talent.
Our Featured Panelists

Oliver Joseph
Oliver Joseph is a songwriter & recording artist from Barrie, Ontario. His songs are made to uplift and motivate his audience through strong wordplay that listeners can relate to. Trails & tribulations are inevitable throughout the course of life however Oliver finds a way to convey his message through his craft which he shares with listeners worldwide.
Look for Oliver on Instagram @oliverjoseph_

Tru aka RoyalTee the Eccentric 1
Since the age of thirteen Tru has been using creative writing such as Spoken Word as a healthy outlet to express the growing pains of his adolescence. Experiencing the health and recreational benefit of arts, cultivated his artistic passion for creative writing. By the time he was fifteen years old, he grew a greater understanding of the radical impact various arts hold on the political and social climate.
Dub-Poetry, Spoken Word and music is a comfort blanket and a core of Tru’s existence. His relationship with Rhythm and rhymes is forging a career as a multidisciplinary emerging artist in these ever-changing times. Tru aims to document and contribute to the revolution.
Look for Tru on Instagram theeccentric1_

Tyneisha Ternent
Tyneisha Ternent, current Poet Laureate nominee and Tourism Spark Grant finalist is a local bestselling author who grew up in downtown Toronto. Known for her bestselling poetry book Bearing Fruit, Tyneisha uses her poetic abilities to perform spoken word poetry that is honest, emotional and uplifting. Tyneisha uses her words to uplift and inspire; and is currently working on a poetic arts tour that will take place throughout Simcoe County in 2023. Tyneisha is a unique artist that understands the power of words and uses them to heal herself and others through poetry.
Ty the Poetess (@tythepoetess) • Instagram photos and videos