Wake Up! (spoken word poetry) | Jesse Oliver | TEDxPerth

Jesse is a spoken word artist and proof of the power of poetry for positive change. Jesse found that poetry opened discussions about his experiences of homelessness, gender transition and mental illness. Overcoming a personal struggle with social anxiety, Jesse moved from stuttering and shaking his way through his first performances to establishing himself on the national stage. In the poetry community Jesse encountered many marginalised voices. Inspired by these voices and compelled by the uncertainty and fear of the times, Jesse turned his attention outward with a new poetic message and called for a revolution of love. Jesse has featured on platforms such as the National Young Writers’ Festival, the Emerging Writers’ Festival, and the Digital Writers’ Festival. In 2017 won the Australian National Poetry Slam Championships. Jesse is a spoken word artist and proof of the power of poetry for positive change. Jesse found that poetry opened discussions about his experiences of homelessness, gender transition and mental illness. Overcoming a personal struggle with social anxiety, Jesse moved from stuttering and shaking his way through his first performances to establishing himself on the national stage. In the poetry community Jesse encountered many marginalised voices. Inspired by these voices and compelled by the uncertainty and fear of the times, Jesse turned his attention outward with a new poetic message and called for a revolution of love. Jesse has featured on platforms such as the National Young Writers’ Festival, the Emerging Writers’ Festival, and the Digital Writers’ Festival. In 2017 won the Australian National Poetry Slam Championships. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx