THE FIRST POET LAUREATE OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA:
“It’s limitless what we can do if it’s supported.” -Judah1
David “Judah1” Oliver is the first Poet Laureate of the City of Pomona, and a testament to the potential of its support. He is also a Civil Engineering Inspector, a father, and an Official City Cultural Arts Advisor. But before he got the city behind him, he had it in his vision. Mr. Oliver started writing poetry at seven years old, but got serious about it at fifteen. A Mic and Dim Lights, founded by Judah’s mentor, Cory “Besskepp” Cofer, in downtown Pomona, October of 2000, is where the laureate would become synonymous with poetry in The City.
“I met Judah at “A Mic and Dim Lights,” about 22 years ago. We’ve been friends ever since. He’s the type of person that will change his plans to meet up with you to talk with you over a beer about your spiritual growing pains, the changing thoughts you’re experiencing. He really did this a few times with me. If I had to pick one word to describe my old friend it would be, without a doubt, “alignment.” Spirituality, purpose, art, service, community, livelihood, they’re all aligned with him, and I’ve watched him struggle to achieve that alignment.” -Devon Ward
“I was always there when there was poetry going on and I would always spit a new poem”, the first laureate shares.
“Judah has a unique gift of bringing artists together from different genres. In many cases, all under one roof at one time. It's beautiful when it happens. This gift will serve Pomona well while he is Poet Laureate, and beyond. His ambition and love for poetry resonates. His leadership and involvement in the community is consistent, infectious and wonderful for our community.” -Besskepp
Judah’s skills with the pen and on the mic got the attention of poets in surrounding communities. He was asked to compete as a part of the Los Angeles team in 2005 and 2006. Pomona hadn’t yet formed it’s own squad. Judah1 started Lionlike Mindstate--an open mic poetry staple in Pomona--in 2008. The Poets of Pomona and the Inland Empire approached Mr. Oliver shortly after to lead a team of their own, and in 2009 the team competed and got 17th in the Nation. Then in the 2010 the team headed to Minneapolis to compete again. This time they came in second in the Nation!
“He is a griot of his generation with a heart for his city and the people. There are many mountains he has moved in the name of purpose, poetry and Pomona”, Treesje--the First Lady of LionLike MindState and a member of the competing team tells me she’s “Honored to partner with him as a friend and co-host.”
In 2011 Judah opened Machine Pomona--a physical space in downtown, right next door to the Pomona Fish Market. This is where I met Judah and got to witness, first-hand his mind at work. Judah would be hosting the LionLike MindState poetry events, throwing hip hop shows, providing RAW Vegan Food demonstrations and workshops, plus yoga and capoeira classes. Judah supported his city with a space and the city answered back with the artists, artwork, and energy to fill it. “I am a machine in myself, that’s why the space was called “Machine”.
David “Judah1” Oliver’s Machine Pomona changed the way the Inland Empire treated it’s art on a scale that reached beyond poetry. More art spaces and art-based events began to spring up and flourish and Judah’s support of the hip hop community was pertinent as well.
“When I’m feeling lost or distracted I would get a text out of nowhere from Judah saying ‘what’s next?’” Noa James, a pioneer in Inland Empire hip hop shares. “My brother is a beacon of inspiration. He helps his community in every way.”
“When I joined his beautiful spoken word community, he accepted me as I was: a rapper with a worthwhile message. His humility, his wisdom, his friendship, and spoken word have left a lasting impact on me as a man and a musician”, said Curtiss King.
Knowing what I know about Judah as an artist and a community leader--what he’s been able to do with so little for so many--I wanted to know why being the official Poet Laureate of the City of Pomona is so important. He’s already been doing the groundbreaking for so many years and already been pouring so much of himself into the people of The City and they’ve been pouring back into him.
“That’s the power of the Laureate. It’s like: Wow. The City really got behind one of us. The City is vested in me and that’s cool.”
That is cool. It’s more than cool. The City of Pomona is making a serious statement about rewarding the righteous work of it’s artist community, by backing Judah1, and it's also keeping the power of the community’s development in its own hands.
“My job is to be a fire-starter and a facilitator...and whatever else needs to be done. We need to start filling up these voids so that we don’t have to leave the area all the time to feel inspired artistically.” With a list of goals that includes the Annual Pomona Poetry Music & Art Festival, The Pomona Anthology, 6 new poetry workshops, an official poem of Pomona, and several other projects with the Mayor’s office, the Pomona Library, and the Arts Council--I can’t imagine having to go anywhere else for artistic inspiration. “If we do it right, there should never be a void of art in the I.E. again, period. That’s why I wanted to be Laureate.”
***NOTE: There have been significant updates to the Poet Laureate’s story since this interview was conducted. See below.***
David “Judah1” Oliver is now...
-Serving on the Board of Directors for the African American Advisory ALLIANCE of Pomona as the Director of arts and performance arts.
-Chairman of arts and Event of the Black Chamber of Commerce, Pomona Chapter
-Re-Appointment on the Cultural Arts Commission Citizen Advisor Committee.
-Extending of Poet Laureate Term an additional year until the end of 2022
(Interview conducted by @sondriaWRITES, 2020)
ellievsbear
vaporwave
dededos
discoholicmusic
theartofmadeline
annaxmalina
