Moonshot Community Spotlight: Ja'Wuan Allen
We are thrilled to spotlight members of our community doing hard, beautiful, and essential work. Our Moonshot Community Spotlight blog series highlights people who have been impacted or involved with Moonshot ventures.
First up, Ja'Wuan Allen, a facilitator with Words Beyond Walls, an organization created by Megan Casimir, a Cohort 4 Moonshot Fellow.
Ja'Wuan Allen, a facilitator with Words Beyond Walls
When I was younger, I didn't have the help I needed to become better. I felt like nobody understood me. I was born and have lived in Denver, Colorado, all my life. As a 21-year-old black man, I want to give back, help, and show something different for our community. Give and provide resources and the help I never got the opportunity to get and show that it's never too late for a better outcome in any situation.
I had known Megan Casimir for some time now, even before Words Beyond Walls (WBW). Some friends of mine were talking about the group, and I thought I’d check it out. The work resonated with me.
Words Beyond Walls supports young adults from the Eastside of Denver to lead healing circles, arts-based workshops, and drop-in community care for teens aged 12-19. Words Beyond Walls practices violence intervention and interruption from a community care lens.
I started coming regularly, and one day, Megan asked if I would become a facilitator.
What drives me to work with WBW is the kids. As a Lead Facilitator with WBW, I lead the group, make sure everyone is being respectful to each other, and bring positivity and happiness to our place. I bring and teach new skills, and think I do this well because I am hard-working and flexible. I’m a leader and a rapper (currently listening to an artist from Denver, TheyCallHimAP).
My time with WBW has inspired me to want to run my own nonprofit org for the youth in the communities and to start my own roofing company. I would love to see more youth-oriented places in Denver. Working with WBW as a facilitator has helped me grow in my own life and as a person.
Learn More about Words Beyond Walls
Visit: https://www.wordsbeyondwalls.org/
Contact: info@wordsbeyondwalls.org