21st March 2025
To celebrate World Poetry Day 2025, we explore the power of creative expression for forging connections and inspiring action within our communities and beyond.
🎤 “Even in times of hopelessness, the act of being able to speak your truth and say your voice is all the power you need.” – Blaize Alexis-Anglin
🎤 “Hope is an optimism. It’s also a respect for the people that are still suffering now. And I feel like that’s why we all should still cling on to hope, because there are people still going through these things, and once we give up on that hope, we give up on them too.” – Tariq Brown
The HLA’s Ka Man Parkinson connects with two inspiring members of Poetic Unity, Tariq Brown and Blaize Alexis-Anglin, who performed powerful pieces at the inaugural Humanitarian Xchange event in London in February 2024.
One year later, we welcome them back to share new work and to hear their advice for how we can all cultivate our own sense of creative expression.
Listen to this inspiring discussion of how poetry and other artforms can be used as a powerful tool for empowerment and change through education, advocacy and community engagement.
Keywords: World Poetry Day, poetry, Humanitarian Xchange, global solidarity, youth leadership, mental health, creative expression, advocacy, activism, campaigning, social impact, grassroots initiatives.
The views and opinions expressed in our podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their organisations.
Listen to the episode, now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Buzzsprout and more!
About the speakers
Blaize Alexis-Anglin
I’m MyselfBlaize, a creative storyteller, poet, and facilitator who transforms vulnerability into powerful narratives. Through spoken word, acting, and workshops, I aim to inspire self-expression, amplify unheard voices, and create spaces where art fosters connection and change.
My journey has taken me from performing poetry in Los Angeles to championing creative expression in schools, collaborating with organizations like TFL, Cuckoo Broadband, and charities on impactful campaigns such as Clean Air for the End. I’ve performed at prestigious venues, including the Houses of Parliament, the Bank of England, and the Roundhouse, using my voice to spark meaningful conversations.
As a host of Poetic Unity’s The Poetic Room and Poets Corner, I’ve curated spaces for artists to share their stories. My work bridges the worlds of art and advocacy, whether performing at conferences like HX24 or running workshops to bring poetry and self-expression into classrooms.
Connect with Blaize on LinkedIn
Tariq Brown
With a diverse career background, my drive to learn and immerse myself in new environment’s underpins my values of pursuing growth and maximising opportunity. With over 6 years in the charity sector, I’ve been lucky to work alongside some amazing young people, championing youth empowerment through education and creativity. I’ve worked directly with thousands of students across Southwark, Lambeth, and Croydon, helping them discover and pursue their own paths.
My international experiences—from Malaysia and Malta to United Arab Emirates and Jamaica—have shaped the way I empower students to achieve their own version of success. Through my work with SEO London and Poetic Unity, I bring together a mix of skills that not only engage but also create lasting impact.
As a poet, I’ve had the honour of collaborating with keynote organisations like Transport for London (TfL), Save the Children, The Humanitarian Xchange, and King’s College, using spoken word as a way to raise awareness and advocate for important causes.
Connect with Tariq on LinkedIn
Ka Man Parkinson
Ka Man Parkinson is a Communications and Marketing Specialist at the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, where she leads the creation and management of digital content, including the Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives podcast and the HLA webinar series. With nearly two decades of leading international marketing and communications campaigns in the international education and nonprofit sectors, Ka Man has worked with organisations such as the British Council and three UK higher education institutions.
Driven by a passion for creating positive impact, Ka Man is dedicated to developing engaging, audience-focused communications that informs, connects and inspires global communities. Ka Man is based near Manchester, UK.
Explore more
About Poetic Unity
Poetic Unity is a Black-led charity founded in 2015 that provides spaces for learning, expression and joy through poetry. Based in Brixton, London, UK, Poetic Unity offers a service by the community, for the community, predominately supporting young people of Black and mixed-Black heritage, aged 10-30. Our work centres the needs and experiences of the young people we support, recognising poetry as a therapeutic tool that unites and heals communities, celebrates identity and challenges injustice.
From Brixton to the world, Poetic Unity works locally and internationally, amplifying suppressed voices and creating safe spaces of connectivity. Through targeted education, employment, social justice, and mental health support, we are transforming spaces of harm to be spaces of healing and development.
In this podcast discussion, Tariq mentions that George the Poet has become the patron of Poetic Unity.
Watch Blaize and Tariq perform at the Humantarian Xchange (HX24)
Watch our YouTube playlist of Blaize, Tariq and fellow Poetic Unity member Aicha Therese performing their works at the Humanitarian Xchange 2024 in London, February 2024.
Explore more on the use of creative techniques in coaching for humanitarians
Coaching for humanitarians: tools and techniques to foster resilience and growth – in this recent podcast episode featuring Ka Man in conversation with Charlotte Balfour-Poole, they discuss the role of creative techniques in coaching for humanitarians and highlight the impact of the Poetic Unity performances from HX24.