Beckoning for Change is a global collaborative organization dedicated to bringing together “artists with a cause,” and other like minded individuals and organizations, who care about creating change, using the arts.
Crystal is a poet and educator who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Writing poetry since the age of 10, she always sheds light on the setbacks in working-class communities and social injustices while coming up with solutions to eradicate these problems, which is what led her to the classroom. Crystal hopes to continue to affect change through writing and teaching. She is the author of a poetry collection, Women on Fire.
Concerning Change
“One of my favorite quotes is: ‘The only thing constant in life is change’. I truly live by that quote in every sense of the word, because change is inevitable. My definition of change is the abolition of social, racial and economic injustices at home and beyond. Specifically speaking, I affect change in my neighborhood by teaching the youth in inner city and urban communities. Education is the key to freedom and empowerment, which is why I have dedicated my life to giving my students the best education possible. The primary root of change is also allowing those who have less, to have the same opportunities as those who have more, and one of the best ways to enact these changes is in the classroom via education.
Sweta Srivastava Vikram is an author, poet, writer, blogger, marketing professional living in New York City. Born in India, Sweta spent her formative years between the blue waters of Libya and the green hills of Missouri, before arriving in bustling New York. She is a graduate of Columbia University in New York. In 2008, her first book of poetry, “Pabulum,” was published. Sweta’s fiction and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Mirage Books, Desijournal, Rangoli Magazine, Kala Kahani, EGO Magazine, India Currents, and Recovering The Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing. She serves on the board of DesiLit. Sweta is also seen at poetry readings in New York City.
Concerning Change
“My writing is a voyage through the three cultures I grew up in: India, Libya, and the US. I am committed to inscribing pieces that highlight logic, question authoritarian doctrines, and promote social change in a non-aggressive yet intellectual manner. I am fascinated by timeless, forward-thinking creations, like Jane Austen’s pieces, that can be read by any generation and yet found relatable.
My poetry is a philosophical inquiry into the stereotypes surrounding gender inequality and human rights. It has a spiritual undertone that expresses the quest for change within the parameters of ethnicity. It dissipates geographic boundaries and cultural interceptions. My nonfiction and fiction pieces reflect on my cultural experiences on both the conscious and subconscious level. My blog gives voice to the illogical adages that makes a society retrogressive and advocates change to keep with the times.
My current work involves a book of poetry that traverses through the wardrobe of colors from an Indian woman’s perspective. It subtly educates people and nudges them to step away from the pigeonhole of shades and empathize with the significance of each color from a unique viewpoint. I am also working on a fiction novel that delves into a woman’s life, who for the most part, unknowingly defies traditions but remains true to the people around her.”
