Left Turn Village Hosts Empowering Freedom Rhymers Mental Health Poetry Event
Left Turn Village hosted its second annual Freedom Rhymer mental health edition poetry contest and open mic event with more than fifty people in attendance.
- Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ (1888PressRelease) June 04, 2025 - Left Turn Village successfully hosted its second annual Freedom Rhymers mental health edition poetry contest and open mic event on Thursday, May 29. More than 50 people gathered at Suite Metuchen to witness an evening of powerful spoken word, hosted by De-Quan “Mega” Jenkins. The event featured four talented Freedom Rhymers contestants: Christine “December Atlas” Martinez, Tony “TJ” Jordan, Liane “Golden Sapphyre” Ingalls, and Thomas “Ghoodlife” Pender. Each poet delivered five-minute original performances centered on mental health themes.
Dr. Tyree Oredein, owner of Left Turn Village and creator of Freedom Rhymers, emphasized the event's profound importance. "This is our third Freedom Rhymers event, and the second with a mental health theme," said Dr. Oredein. "We're strongly considering making this an annual tradition because, once again, participants expressed immense gratitude for a safe space to discuss mental health. This is crucial because the pervasive stigma around mental health consistently prevents people from seeking necessary help, fueled by the fear of judgment, discrimination, and internalized shame. It's a sobering fact that less than half of people experiencing a mental health condition receive treatment, and this is largely attributable to this very stigma."
Following the competition, audience members, including one virtual caller, shared their own pieces. Poets explored a diverse range of topics, such as anxiety, substance use, depression, and the broader impact of stigma on mental well-being. Ingalls noted, "I truly appreciated the opportunity to engage in my craft while demonstrating the healing power of poetry and the spoken word in navigating mental health struggles."
TJ was awarded first place in the competition, with December Atlas taking second and Ghoodlife placing third. In addition to prize money, all Freedom Rhymers received designer underwear from sponsor, CHULO Underwear.
Left Turn Village is a Black and woman-owned, queer-centered public health and social justice company. They are dedicated to creating safer, more inclusive, and culturally competent spaces for marginalized communities through a wide array of programming. Under the umbrella of Left Turn Village, "Freedom Rhymers" is a collective of poets and verbal artists. Inspired by the "Freedom Riders" of the Black Civil Rights Movement, these artists are called upon to share their lived experiences through the power of spoken word.
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