Spoken Word
The Power of Community: June “Jumakae” Kaewsith
PalacioMagazine.com‘s recent interview with artist and activist June “Jumakae” Kaewsith gave us an opportunity to hear her powerful spoken word piece,“Communities that I’m a part of”. It inspired us to think about the power of Community. The power of Community that occurs when people find common purpose. Shared goals. Mindful of the consequences that will affect them all if there is no Unity.
A sometimes overused word, Community is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
a group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood)
a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.
a group of nations
In a Blog post last year in the Huffington Post, the authors, Brant Secunda and Mark Allen, spoke about No One Stands Alone: The Power of Community,:
Without community, we cannot extend ourselves, our passions and our enthusiasm, into the world. With it, we have a mutual support system that carries us through hard times, such as when we’re losing steam and motivation, and when we need strength for body and soul. It sustains us in our own lives: We don’t ever have to stand alone.
Listen to June’s piece,“Communities that I’m a part of”. There is a vision of who we are as a Community. Many Communities. A Power of Community that comes with insight and wisdom in her words.
Communities that I’m a part of
that I want to change the world community
that half ass vegetarian hold up a peace sign community
that artist creating free-spirited collective seeking community
that you ain’t doing enough to make change community
that you’re doing too much slow it down community
that Asian American let’s get our people together community
that hip hop neo soul vibin’ loving all that’s brown skinned conscious Afrikana community
that Thai buddha blessing ancient temples alms to the monks ancestral prayer community
that forgiveness for the Christians that said you’re going to hell community
that Cambodian with that love/hate relationship for Thais and I don’t know enough about Lao what is the Secret War community
that healing community
that dreamer commuting to Los Angeles on the 405 5 10 101 traffic community
that I’m tired of being the ethnic girl but don’t want to play white community
that Long Beach culturally diverse community
that cycling buck the police and expensive spandex let’s ride or die community
that I ain’t no hipster just cuz i ride a bike community
that spit your heart our through words that don’t always have to rhyme community
that sing to express not to impress buck a record deal community
that independent community
that village of strong womyn who grew up ‘tomboy’ and now embrace the LBGTQ community
yup that queer community
scarred by men and dare to be stronger community
write plays and prose about our woes community
even one-womyn show community
grassroots organizing empower the youth community
won’t admit sometimes too broke to eat out community
Craiglist job hunting community
Struggling community
happy to have health and happiness if not material wealth community
flat-chested, don’t give a damn about implants community
that love your natural state community
that be yourself community
that i’m too afraid to commit to one community
afraid of being hurt by community
that it’s okay you’re still learning community
that don’t mistake company for community
that it’s okay times are tough but we gotta hold it together through community
