Get to know P.O.E.T.!

P.O.E.T. People Of Extraordinary Talent was established by Blaq Ice in 1990 in Chicago, IL. P.O.E.T., has toured the Chicago Public School System and the City Colleges of Chicago for over 20yrs with anti-drug, anti-gang, motivational and inspirational messages. In addition to giving students something to which they can say "No", P.O.E.T. gave them something to which they could say "Yes" with the themes of self-empowerment, self-love, self-respect and self-sufficiency.




On March 21, 2010, P.O.E.T. presented "THE KINGS OF POETRY" Spoken Word Poetry Show at the Historic DuSable Museum. With 500 people in attendence, it was totally sold out and nearly 100 people had to be turned away. This overwhelming audience response caused P.O.E.T. to host a second show, which drew another 350 people in support. P.O.E.T. has emerged as one of the most elite entertainment groups in the mid-west for Spoken Word Poetry. P.O.E.T., Blaq Ice Productions, 2 BOLD Entertainment, Nuke Bomb Records and the Tyrone Hawthorne Cancer/Scholarship Foundation, which donate to various charities and award scholarships to deserving seniors at Urban Prep Academy Charter High School, have emerged as powerful entertainment companies as well as social/civic organizations with monthly productions under the banner of P.O.E.T., having a different theme for each event/function. As vanguards of this art, there is no other Entertainment group with Spoken Word being the focal point of that entertainment group, who can stake the claim that hundreds come out every month to attend its shows.



Today, P.O.E.T. has over 60 active members, which consist of poets, spoken word artists, dancers, vocalists, play writers, authors, motivational speakers, videographers, photographers, web designers, accountants, event coordinators and those who just love art and entertainment, all of which affect positive changes in cities in the mid-west. With committees such as artist development/recruitment, faith based, school system and community outreach, P.O.E.T. touches the world through its events that benefit our youth and families as well as raise funds for issues that plague our community, from juvenile cancer to the senseless killings on our street.



The vision of P.O.E.T. is to network with other artist and entertainment groups and combine our resources, gifts and talents to do bigger, better and greater events, resulting in shows that hold thousands instead of hundreds, filling auditoriums and theaters. In this way our message of to uplift, motivate and inspire can be heard by a greater audience of people, truly making the word flesh. P.O.E.T. is a movement who's members' efforts and talents are exemplified by its motto "I am artistic truth, freedom of expression, creativity and life. I am a P.O.E.T."