Storyteller
Memory-keeper
Welcome to the site!
In the words of the legendary soul singer, songwriter, and composer Donny Hathaway, "I've been so many places in my life and time..." Aside from the titles in the header, I'm a poet, author, artist, budding playwright, organization founder, community health worker, plant momma, music lover, dance floor holder-downer, appreciator of good food, Scotch drinker, fan of nature and old Eddie Murphy movies. I'm also game for a barefoot race from light post to light post.
On this site, you'll be introduced to some of my work in advertising. Watch my two TEDx talks. Have access to some press clippings (on a couple of those links you'll hear me read some of my poetry, and do some storytelling). And, if you have a more formal interest in me, you can read my bio and request my resumé and/or artist CV.
A lot of the details are here, but sitting down over a cup of coffee or tea with me is where the real stories are.
Press
Guns In America, Time Magazine
St Louis Visionary Awards Creative Women St. Louis Mag
Reflections On Community Trauma 5 Years After #Ferguson
Not So Late Night: A night of conversation, performance, poetry in St. Louis STL Home of Education
White Flight and Reclaimed Memories We Live Here Podcast
Cheeraz Gormon shares selections from book on one-year anniversary STL American Magazine
Poet Cheeraz Gormon putting her words to music at Centene Center STL Today
Love in the face of suffering: North St. Louis native Cheeraz Gormon pairs activism and poetry STL Public Radio
“Being ‘still here’ is layered for me. This is my birthplace, the place I call
home even when I’ve settled far away from its day-to-day issues. If I’m
honest with myself, I’m still here because my heart feels it necessary to
do whatever I can to assist in the healing of what’s been most harmed.
Myself included.” -Cheeraz Gormon
Download a free issue of the American Ethnologist, which features a poem by Cheeraz, and works by other St. Louis-based artists, writers, anthropologist, and activist at: https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/amet.12969
Writings
In The Midst of Loving
In The Midst of Loving, is the first collection of poetry and writing by Cheeraz Gormon. The work spans over 14-years of living and loving.
"In the midst of loving is a powerful book of poetry. It takes the reader through all sorts of emotion while putting you at ease that someone else has felt like this. Covering the experiences of romantic love, self doubt, shared traumatic experience of the lost lives of young black men and women, this book will make you cry, laugh and repent for your wrongdoings all in the same body of work. Fantastic read!"
Darian Wigfall, Farfetched Records
Purchase your copy here
Stay Wild Magazine
Check out some of, Cheeraz’s writing for Stay Wild Magazine
"I am learning to breathe deeply, again.” Stay Wild Magazine, Fall 2017, Issue #15
"An Invitation to Return, to Experience Something Different," "Remembering Light," and "Remembrances -- And, is this the point" Stay Wild Magazine, Summer 2018, Issue #18
"Into The Forest To Rescue Myself From the Valley." Stay Wild Magazine, Summer 2019, Issue #22
The Siblings Are Not All Right
May 31 2019, the last day of Mental Health Awareness month, Cheeraz released one of here most personal essays titled, "The Siblings Are Not All Right." In it, she gives a personal account of what its been like to have lost several blood-related and fictive kin siblings to a violent crime. And, as she always does, she issues a call for tender solutions to support people who were gifted these, painful and uncomfortable shoes to walk the remainder of their life's journey.
Read essay here
apexart International Artist Fellow Journal
In the Spring of 2016, Cheeraz had the opportunity to spend almost a month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as an international arts fellow through apexart. It was her first time on the continent of Africa. Due to the timing of her trip, she experienced two Palm Sunday's and two Easter's in one year.
Read her journal here
You can also checkout the talk she had with apexart executive director, Steven Rand, upon her return here
Reading, Talks, & Interviews
Public speaking found its way into Cheeraz’s life through spoken word poetry. Since 1998, she has been a performer, panelist, panel moderator, and guest speaker for organizations, conferences, and colleges nationally and internationally.
Get Your Tissue! Tune in for the complete story with Cheeraz Gormon on her journey with LIFE, LOSS & LOVE!!!
Described as a multipotentialite, St. Louis native, Cheeraz Gormon is a cross-genre writer, multi-medium storyteller, and public speaker whose work spans the art forms of poetry, essay writing, photography, film production, music, and advertising. Additionally, she is a community-centered social entrepreneur and is personally and professionally devoted to the visibility, care, and healing of underserved and marginalized populations.
Spots & Film
After filming her poetry troop, the Soul Vibe Poetry Collective in 2002 while they were on tour across the United States, Cheeraz decided to keep her love for the moving, and still image going. Below are a few spots from her career in advertising to spots she co-wrote and directed for her own organization to the trailer for a feature length docu-interview with artist, Christopher Burch.
Music
In 2019, Cheeraz collaborated with legendary producer, DJ, and performer Osunlade for his release, “Racially Charged.” Read the description of the project and purchase vinyl here.
Contact
bookingcheerazgormon@gmail.com