Our Story

Matthew 'Cuban' Hernandez and Alyesha Wise have, individually, been teaching poetry and creative writing in classrooms, juvenile detention centers, colleges and other facilities for about the last 10 years. Shortly after 2012, they realized that, together, they would have a stronger impact in poetry education and became business partners. As a team, Matthew and Alyesha have traveled nationally and internationally teaching and performing poetry. They've coached youth and adult slam teams to semi-finals and final stages at international, national and regional poetry slams.

 

Their latest endeavor is based in their current city. Spoken Literature Art Movement (S.L.A.M.) was created with the goal to uplift and support poets in the Los Angeles community and beyond. Since the organization was founded in fall of 2017, it has served 300+ students and writers and has a current alumni number of 42.