Today we’d like to introduce you to Alondra Alvizo. Them and their team share their story with us below:
In September of 2016, two women came together to innovate the future of creative, collaborative, and community-based artistry. While discussing the lack of affordable exposure opportunities alongside unrestricted funding for artists of color and the desire to create a social/physical platform that served communities of color; Jewel Dotson and Alondra Alvizo brought to life what is present-day Vizo’s Voice.
In the beginning, the idea was to create a YouTube channel that would allow their own artistic creativity to bloom while also creating a space for any talented individual to showcase their craft. During this time, three videos were produced weekly — Teach Me Tuesdays, Work of the Week Wednesday, and Freeverse Friday. The Tuesday videos focused on community education, the Wednesday videos showcased different artistry and craftsmanship, and the Friday videos were a collection of original work by Alondra.
Within a year of operation, Vizo’s Voice had published over a 100 videos, organized and led programs on politics, provided one $100 scholarship to an upcoming lyricist (rapper), raised over $500.00 for disaster relief and partnered with communities of color to bring community programs free of cost.
What originated as a social-based organization with a primary audience of Michigan State University students became a registered business within the state of Michigan. The work of Vizo’s Voice has evolved throughout the years but it has never strayed from its purpose to serve creativity, collaboration, and community within the arts.
Now, Vizo’s Voice operates primarily out of La Casa De Colores Detroit which is Alondra’s permanent residence located in Midwest Detroit. Having a home that also serves as a community space has brought forth so many creative projects and we are honored to play a role in strengthening the artistic scene in Detroit. In 2021, Alondra through Vizo’s Voice, published two poetry books, Crown of Roses and Queendom Come.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One of the hardest things is evolving while staying true to what the organization is meant to do. Being able to live out your purpose while making a profitable living and pushing great artistry is complex. You have to find the right balance. For us, it was really reinventing ourselves every step of the way, both personally and as an organization to meet the evolving demand of artistry.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Vizo’s Voice really is about expression. Creating spaces and platforms where one can be free from expectations of what art should be. When the pandemic hit, we were at halt for what we do. We didn’t know how to create events that were engaging through a screen but we learned. We provided programs, workshops, and performances curated for the virtual space. Alondra focused on her writing and produced two poetry books during that time.
Crown of Roses was written and first published in 2018. We decided to make it more widely available in 2021 and self-publish it on Amazon alongside the release of Queendom Come. Crown of Roses is the personal narrative of the author learning to make peace with the painful pieces of her identity in hopes others will learn through her written work how they can make peace with their truest selves. This book is designed to walk us through the phases of who we are and who we can be.
Queendom Come was written and published in 2021 as both the continuation and origin of Crown of Roses. Queendom Come is about all the women in our lives who shape us and all the women in our lives that we shape. Growing into womanhood is a struggle of balance and this book was dedicated to the three phases by which we learn balance; Rising, Radical Reaffirming, and Recommencing. Through this, the author wrote about the teachings she received from women on how to be a woman she could be proud of.
Signed author copies are available for purchase through our website at https://www.vizosvoice.com/shop but you can also purchase the website through Amazon. The goal was to create art that was accessible and with the money from the books, we are able to keep providing workshops and events that are free or low cost to communities.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love T.Miller’s and Rudy Franciscos poetry. Who they are as people (I’ve had the privilege of meeting both) and what they write is so thought-provokingly human. They write about every day as a person and in many ways, there’s magic in that. I excel in life because I move with love and light. I never need to be the gatekeeper. I know someone you want to know, let me know and I’ll happily connect you. There’s an opportunity well suited for you? I’m going to pass it along. There is room for all of us to win. I do this without expecting it in return but when you lead with love and light, that energy boomerangs. I also really enjoyed reading the encyclopedia of an ordinary life by Amy Kraus Rosenthal. That book really changed my life recently. There is magic in every day, there is power in today.
Pricing:
- Virtual Workshops – $150
- Virtual Performances – $50-300
- Books – $20 author copies
- Books – $15 on Amazon
Contact Info:
- Email: vizosvoice@gmail.com
- Website: www.vizosvoice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vizosvoice/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/itsvizo/?hl=en
