Meet Desdamona Ross

We recently connected with Desdamona Ross and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Desdamona, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

As a child I was surrounded by creative people who encouraged my creativity and allowed me to explore and create freely. They encouraged me and took notice of what I was doing and their words pushed me to work harder. When they told me I was good at something, I believed them and wanted to show them I could do more. In these early years, these were the people who helped me realize who I was and they didn’t force their ways or ideas onto me. They presented opportunity and made room for me to explore. This support was vital to my wellbeing and the development of my confidence and self-esteem. I knew I was an artist from a very young age and I remember a specific moment in art class where I realized that everyone has a gift and I knew exactly what mine was. This boosted my self-esteem and led me to embrace my uniqueness.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I work with TruArtSpeaks, an arts and culture organization based in St. Paul, MN. I am the Poetry Ambassador for TruArtSpeaks and I lead Re-Verb Open Mic and Re-Verb Radio. Both of these programs focus on showcasing local talent and shine the light on national and International artists as well. As part of these programs I also do community outreach to connect with students and community members of all ages, to engage them in our programming. The thing that excites me about what we do, is that we create spaces for people to create, respond, learn and connect with others – As a young person, having these kinds of spaces and people to connect with is what helped me understand my place in the world and made me feel connected and empowered. Through TruArtSpeaks programming I get to facilitate these connections and spaces of exploration on a delay basis.

At TruArtSpeaks we believe that art and culture, especially Hip Hop and Spoken Word, inspire connection, growth and transformation. As a practitioner of both art forms since the 90’s, I feel deeply rooted in the work we do and love that I get to be my full self in this work. My personal expression is also informed by the work we do and I love that I get to be tapped into youth culture and all the unique cultures in the communities and educational centers we work in and with. Even when I am leading sessions, I feel like I am a student of this work and I am constantly learning.

TruArtSpeaks also has other programming including, Be Heard MN Youth Slam Series, an annual series that seeks to identify a cohort of 6 youth cohort of six teen poets to represent youth voice through public performance, commissioned works, panel discussions, and more while simultaneously receiving mentorship in writing, performance, and publication from some of Minnesota’s premiere spoken word artists.

Additionally, we have community gatherings, professional development opportunities and residencies in schools and community centers that are interactive and engage participants and audiences to create and think critically about our communities and our world. You can learn more about all we do at www.truartspeaks.org

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Creative thinking, leadership skills, being curious – These are the first three things I think of when I think of my journey and what pushed me the most. Being able to think outside the box and be confident enough to do my own thing has served me well. Being invited to be a leader at a young age built a strong foundation for me and also bolstered my confidence. Being curious has opened many doors and perspectives for me – I think my curiosity has led me to explore, question and expand my thinking beyond what I was surrounded by as a young person.

I think it’s important to explore, try new things, meet new people and not stay confined in your usual patterns. Always remember you are a teacher and a student – this is key for me and I believe it does a few things. 1. It keeps me humble. 2. It keeps my mind open and it reminds me I have something to offer as well. I can learn from anyone of any age. It is a constant process.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents encouraged me to pursue the things I enjoyed and didn’t interfere with my passions. I feel like they sacrificed to provide me enriching experiences and I am so grateful because without creative expression and exposure to the arts, I think I would be lost and struggling with my identity. I never felt like my parents didn’t believe in my abilities. I witnessed my parents get creative in tough times and they always found a way – I can feel this determination in myself and I believe it’s in me because I witnessed it in them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.desdamona.bandcamp.com / www.truartspeaks.org
• Instagram: desdamonarox
• Facebook: Desdamona.rox
• Linkedin: Desdamona Ross
• Youtube: YouTube.co/desdamonaone
• Soundcloud: Desdamona Rox

Image Credits

Photo credit: Anna Min