Meet the Board • Southern Fried Poetry, Inc.

Sarita “Sincere” Goods

Sarita Goods (Sincere) has been an avid lover of poetry since she was child. She began performing and organizing open mic events in 2001 in Greenville, SC, while in college. Now, over two decades later, she has graced countless stages, facilitated workshops and performed at local schools. In addition to serving as President of the Board of Directors for Southern Fried Poetry, Inc., Sincere is also a dedicated member of the New Danger Arts Collective and was recently inducted into the Carolina “Flow Official” chapter of Black on Black Rhyme. Her work within the slam community includes both competing and coaching, but she found that she can be most impactful working on the administrative side of things. She has been attending Southern Fried since 2011 and through this community, she discovered her love for nurturing the person while helping develop their craft. Under her guidance, Southern Fried survived the pandemic, hosted the first fully virtual team/indie tournament in 2021, and has now returned with two successful in person competitions in 2022 and 2023.

Sarita currently holds a BA in interdisciplinary studies, an MA in Management and Leadership, and is currently working on a second MA in Organizational Development. She works as a licensed Realtor in both North and South Carolina and is proud to be a trusted advisor when it comes to real estate. She is an inspirational conversationalist who is always willing to share her knowledge on “how to live the Good(s) life.” She is a dedicated and hardworking wife and mother of two. She currently resides near Charleston, SC, which is where she is originally from. She considers it an honor and a privilege to continue serving on the board of directors for Southern Fried and is excited for the upcoming year.

Jasmine “Cocoa Flo” Swanagan

Jasmine “Cocoa Flo” Swanagan is a feisty, unapologetic, and enlightened poet, speaker, and entrepreneur hailing from the small city of Owensboro, KY. Cocoa attended Kentucky Wesleyan College where she received a Bachelors in Computer Information Systems and the University of Cincinnati where she received a Masters in Health Informatics. Her small town roots mingled with her experience as a corporate professional lend themselves to make up her unique and incredible style both on and off stage. Her goal is always to encourage others to act, think, or heal using her own story as an example of what God, faith, and perseverance can produce.

On stage, Cocoa is a roaring lioness! In her time as a poet, Cocoa has performed in multiple cities across the country and has won numerous slams and competitions. Most recently, Cocoa is the 2024 One Word Poetry Festival Slam Winner, The DuWaup’s Cincinnati Poetry Slam “Winner’s Circle” Champion, the 2023 Rite of Joy Poetry Slam Champion, and a 2023 Queen of the South Winner. She has competed at three Southern Fried Poetry Slams, appearing as a finalist at all three (Indie & Teams – Slam Charlotte), a Rustbelt Poetry Festival Team and Indie finalist, and an Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS) finalist. Cocoa is also the author of “Twitter Fingers: A Collection of Tweet Inspired Poems and Thoughts”.

Off stage, Cocoa is a kind and calculated leader. She is the owner of a technology consulting company, and the Founder and President of Black Girl Cultivate Inc., a 501C(3) nonprofit, with a mission to support and empower African American girls pursuing post-secondary education. Cocoa continues to strive to find ways to give back, in word, in deed, or in coin, to every community she has the honor to be a part of.

Ashlee Connors

She writes because she knows what it’s like to be broken, she speaks because she knows what it’s like to be silenced, she shares because she knows her gift is meant to free others. In a sea of T-Shirt and jeans, this fashion forward poet stands out.

Though at first glance one would assume Ashlee is about to walk the runway, when she walks to the mic the crowd is in for a treat. Stitching stanzas, weaving wordplay, and hemming rough topics in her poetry, she delivers a one of a kind brand.

Her style is unique, raw, and uplifting to the spirit. Writing since the age of 8 proved to be a safe place. Because of her Caribbean roots, Ashlee never gave much thought to writing being a viable career. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s in English with every intention to study law. Being introduced to the works of Shakespeare, Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston, she knew law wouldn’t be her career. Ashlee Connors credits her creative rhetoric to her advanced life experiences. Ashlee inspires many with her writing by tapping into the emotional chambers of the heart and appealing to what the audience needs to hear.

Ashlee has been a member of the Marquis Slam team between 2016-2019. She went on to compete at WOWPS, a slam for poets who identify as womxn. The WOWPS community was uniquely designed to honor and celebrate the stories of womxn in a world that readily attempts to silence and oppress them. It is a space where we are centered, safe, and encouraged. She made final stage in March 2020 and ranked 14th. Ashlee has also served as slammaster for the Loc’d and Loaded Slam Team 2023 and the team ranked 8th place in the region.

Ashlee took an interest in serving on the back end with the administrative side. She has served on the health and wellness committee for Southern Fried. She also served as the Volunteer Committee for WOWPS. Recently, she accepted a position to be on the board for Southern Fried and is also Department Head of Poetry for the Raleigh Film and Art festival.

Ashlee is excited to serve in each of these capacities and hoped to continue to leave her mark in the art form.

Stephanie “Steph Love” Lask

Stephanie Lask aka Steph Love is a spoken word artist, teaching artist, event host, web designer and graphic designer originally from Virginia Beach, VA.

She teaches poetry, and graphic novel workshops with Arts For Learning – The Virginia Affiliate of Young Audiences. She’s an event host for multi-genre showcases, open mics, and poetry slams. She’s also a web designer/developer and graphic designer for non-profits and small businesses across Hampton Roads, VA and all over the country.

She was a team finalist in the 2023 Southern Fried Poetry Slam with the Verb Benders Slam Team. She was also featured on the Grammy Award-Winning album by Mad Skillz, Words For Days Vol. 1.

Stephanie is a music lover, a hip hop enthusiast, a vinyl collector and cat lady currently residing in Norfolk, VA. Get to know more by visiting SLFiveDesigns.com.

Treasurer

Robin Danielle Bobo

Robin Danielle Bobo is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning poet, performer, arts administrator, nonprofit executive, and human resources leader. Originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan, she has called Chicago home for the past 26 years and has been a fixture in the spoken word community for more than two decades, performing across the United States and internationally.

Robin is the Founder of Robin Bobo Arts, President of Think Tank Legacy NFP, Creator and Curator of the Wise Words: Great Lakes Griots Poetry Slam Festival, and serves on the Board of Directors for both Southern Fried Poetry and the Collective Arts Network.

A poet, actress, singer, educator, and host, Robin hosted **The Padded Room Open Mic** for 13 years and currently curates and hosts **Rhythm & Breathe Open Mic**. She is passionate about cultivating artists, producing impactful arts programming, and creating spaces where creativity and community thrive.

Professionally, Robin serves as a Director of Human Resources. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Business, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership. Robin is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Wendy Jones

Wendy Jones is a poet and copy editor currently residing in Durham, North Carolina. She is the Slam Coordinator for the Bull City Slam Team based at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, North Carolina, the President of the Black on Black Rhyme Carolina chapter, assistant tournament director for Exit 36 Poetry Festival in Pompano Beach, Florida and most recently she has been appointed to the South Carolina arts council poetry fellowship panel.

She is an artistic curator, workshop facilitator and event planner who has been an integral part of the planning and development of numerous Spoken Word projects and Slams along the southeast corridor over the past 15 years on a local and regional level, including Southern Fried Poetry Slam and Duo Slam. She has edited numerous collections of poetry and short story books for Southern based authors and is looking to expand into publishing in 2023.

Eddie Vega

Eddie Vega is a poet, spoken word artist, and educator originally from the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, currently residing in San Antonio. His poetry has been displayed on VIA Buses and downtown San Antonio buildings. In 2017, he was the runner-up in the Haiku Death Match at the National Poetry Slam. His first full-length collection of poetry, Chicharra Chorus, was published in 2019 by FlowerSong Press. Vega writes about food, Tejano culture, social justice, and the intersections thereof. Known as the Taco-Poet of Texas, he can be found at an open-mic, slam, or taqueria on any given non-quarantine evening anywhere throughout South Texas.