Carlos Andres Gomez Speaks to Campus

Carlos Andres Gomez Speaks to Campus

The Independence Community College Campus welcomed Carlos Andres Gomez on March 9 to speak to students on “Poetry Performance and Self Care’ and ‘Reimagining Modern Manhood.’

The Colombian American poet is the star of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Spike Lee’s #1 box office movie Inside Man with Denzel Washington. The event was open to students, faculty, staff, and community members and was followed by a reception/book signing with Gómez.

“Carlos Andres Gomez seeks to resonate with our students at ICC. That kind of connection helps students to feel seen, which directly supports the meaningful connections already happening on our campus,” explains Megan Moore, Student Life Coordinator. “The importance of bringing speakers and performers like Carlos on campus is that they can be life-changing. There’s potential to positively impact our students’ worldview, build life-skills, as well as encourage them to be kind to themselves and others.”

A former social worker and public school teacher, Carlos first made a name for himself by winning at the Apollo Theater’s celebrated Amateur Night and later as a member of the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café’s slam team. In 2008, he collaborated with Tony Award-winning tap dance legend Savion Glover on Broadway. Gómez is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College.

Hailing from New York City, Gómez has performed at nearly 800 colleges and universities in 47 U.S. states and headlined shows in 26 countries across five continents. He has been featured on NPR, TEDx, Upworthy, Central Park SummerStage, and partnered with John Legend for Senior Orientation, a program to counteract bullying and champion inclusive masculinity among high school students.

“I really enjoyed hearing his poems; they were really inspiring,” explained Kylee Leach, ICC freshman. “I enjoyed it so much I grabbed a copy of his book on the way out, signed and everything!”

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