Pikes Peak Poet Laureate, Ashley Cornelius, will explore the ways poetry is a modality for healing and continues to save lives. Poetry is a beautiful language that allows people to share stories and experiences, and advocate for important causes. Poetry is a conduit for change and reflection of our times. Learn more about the poetry scene in Colorado, the work and inspiration of the current poet laureate, and hear stories of how poetry has saved and sustained people and communities.

About the Presenter:

Ashley Cornelius is the 6th Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) and is the manager of the RISE program at Denver Health, providing confidential peer support to Denver Health personnel. She is passionate about mental health and removing stigma for those seeking support.  She graduated with a master's in International Disaster Psychology from DU. Ashley Cornelius is a nationally recognized spoken word poet in Colorado. Her poetry focuses on empowerment, self-care, body positivity, intersectionality, and systemic oppression. Ashley is sought after across the country for speaking engagements and workshop facilitation. She is recognized for her work around domestic violence and sexual assault, self-love and body positivity, self-care, mental health, and racial equity workshops. Ashley was awarded the Bee and Arts Champion from the Bee Vradenburg Foundation in 2021. She is a Colorado Business Journal Rising Star class of 2021. She won Colorado Springs Independent Best of Artist in  2019. She has won multiple poetry slams in Colorado Springs. She was the Women of the World Poetry Slam Colorado Springs representative and competed in Dallas at Nationals in March 2018. She has been featured at Tedx Cherry Creek & Colorado Springs, Colorado College, the Colorado Springs Women's March, Denver Public Library, the Colorado Nonprofit Association, and many other stages and venues. Ashley is the Co-Director of Poetry 719, a poetry group lifting the voices of marginalized communities and BIPOC folks through poetry. Ashley was nominated for two 2018 Pikes Peak Art Council (PPAC) awards and won best recurring poetry event. She aims to inspire, empower, and evoke change with her poetry. Ashley has a background in poetry education and was the Program Director of an arts nonprofit in Denver focused on poetry workshops and curriculum. Ashley is committed to using poetry as a platform to speak up and out for marginalized groups and be a voice for those who have been silenced.