Donorica Harris
I’m Donorica Harris and I attended OPRF Sophomore to Junior year, 2004-06’. I participated in Spoken Word and made the slam team my Junior year, all great memories I’ll never forget. Completing my education at DePaul University in 2012, I obtained a B.S in Information Systems – Analyst and M.S in Information Security & Compliance. I’ve now been with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (Remote) in Information Security for 9 years. Just 4 years ago, I returned to Oak Park, no place like home. Lastly, I am fitness instructor for Immortal Body Fitness, a gym I opened in 2018.
The impact of poetry and the spoken word club
Writing has always been my outlet for emotional expression since I was a child. Being an introvert and anti-social, I found it hard to verbally communicate with others. I could be vulnerable without judgement and uninterrupted if I wrote them down, it was my safe-space. Seldom did I allow others into my thoughts, I didn’t trust that they’d understand. It wasn’t until I found Spoken Word that I found a voice of my own. It was then that I offered myself true expression. The community amongst those in Spoken Word, is one of security, empowerment, and understanding. No matter the poem read, everyone is connected, everyone is respected it, and everyone is embraced.
Joining Spoking Word Club, I joined another family. The language of poetry is one so involved, 3 minutes of hearing a writer speak a poem, I could feel that I’d known them forever. We are instantly bonded and the relationship will forever be.
Although I didn’t go into a career of writing, Spoken Word Club afforded me the ability to confidently speak publicly and engage an audience. Throughout my career, I’ve been complimented on my stage presence and and/or presentation skills. I know the power behind my voice, I know the power of my words and I can only attribute that to Spoken Word Club.
Top favorite poets or lyricists
Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Avery R Young + Common, Kanye West, Tupac Shakur
Writing Prompts
What’s something from your life that went from broken to “restored?” (It could be literal or figurative)
Write about a family member you miss
Look up events that happened on your birthday and write about one of them