Poet Bruno on Forbes magazine

FORMER national spoken word champ Camryn Bruno’s powerful poetic message has been highlighted for the world to see by Forbes magazine. Bruno was featured on the highly respected American publication after performing on the closing night at Women of the World Festival 2019 on April 2 at the Apollo, New York. Her poem critiqued society’s “recipe” for the “perfect woman” and impressed a Forbes magazine writer who was present.

The magazine described her piece as a powerful poem that “summarised the very purpose of the festival: to speak openly about the things that need to change and to come together to help make that change happen.”

Speaking to Newsday recently, Bruno said she was not expecting that type of recognition but described it as “cool.”

She said, “Forges magazine just happened to be there. It was only a few weeks later a friend told me I was featured at the beginning of the article. The reporter at the event decided what I wrote was in line with what the festival was about.”

Bruno is a 19-year-old Queens-born spoken word poet and model that resided in Mason Hall before she returned in 2018 to study at York College. She won the First Citizens National Poetry Slam in 2017 and Ms Tobago Heritage Personality 2017, was a finalist of the Bowery Poetry Slam, a temporary tour member with The 2 Cents Movement and A Girl Be Heard Company member. She is internationally recognised with appearances at various festivals in the Caribbean and is a two-time participant of the Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival in the US.

Her poems usually explore social issues that affect youths and are passionate about youth development. She identifies as an advocate – in her work and writing – for the rights of women, people of colour and other historically marginalised groups.

Bruno recently captured the title of NYC Youth Poet Laureate 2018-2019 last November against 15 finalists,

Youth Poet Laureate is a programme held by Urban Word NYC, NYC Votes and the Office of the Mayor, to identify young writers and leaders committed to creating change through civic engagement and literary excellence.

Last week, Bruno made a 12-minute presentation at Tedx Canyon Dual-Citizenship and immigration. She said, “I was about to share my truth about being a dual citizen, and using spoken word to do that was nice. The TED talk will be out next month online and I encourage everyone to take a look at it.”

Bruno is currently working on more poems for poetry month and her book, which is expected to be published in November. “I am also working on getting work from students in Tobago to publish the first anthology for youth in Tobago. So when I come back to Tobago, the plan is to have workshops and other sessions.”