This is Changa, he hails from Zacatecas, Mexico, where he grew up until he was nine then moved to the States. English is his second language, and he can do freestyle poetry in it. To me that is amazing. He grew up dancing and is what is known in hip-hop culture as a B-boy.
Every week for the past 7 years he has run a writer's circle called “Writers Block” at what is now known as Mi Chantli (formerly Block 1750) and takes on the role of master of ceremonies or MC for short. He holds space for all kinds of different types of people to come and share their poetry and being. Each week there is a new guest host, and Changa said that the goal is to feature different artists within the poetry community. His role as the MC entails that he contains all of that wild energy. Directing the flow of the poets through announcements, coordinating with the guest host, making sure that people quiet down so that they can be heard, and making sure people can get announcements in. He views it as a sort of background puzzle maker, and he also provides us all with his great poetry to boot.
It’s like the hip-hop community in that way, which is Changa’s goal for the space. There is something called a “Cypher” in hip-hop where people circle up, and each person brings their artistic and creative self to the table either through music, dance, visual art, or poetry. It’s all about community and strength in numbers. He envisioned a poetry version of a dance cipher. It’s always filled with an eclectic and diverse group of amazing people each bringing their own vulnerable selves and sharing in the community of it all.
It’s a sub-culture that is neighborly, as opposed to a big national conference where everyone has their PHD’s and share’s their big words and holds each other at arm's length. It’s like “Gas Station Poetry”: all walks of life use the gas station, and each person can get their fill.
Something interesting about Changa is that he lives with dyslexia and ADHD. He has worked hard over the years through reading and training to overcome these challenges. He pushes through and makes space for so many people in the community. Quite the feat, quite the Person of the Front Range.
Nice! Long live Changa!