Help Queen B to Buzz Off to CIPS!

Once upon a time...there was a spoken word artist named Queen B. She won a poetry slam that allowed her to represent Kitchener-Waterloo at the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam in Vancouver, British Columbia. This was very exciting for Queen B! She soon encountered a hitch, however - the evil monster Capitalism demanded an offering of magical, coloured papers before she could buzz away to perform her poetry. Queen B called on the powers of her Fairy Godmother, but old F.G. wasn't answering the phone. Will you help Queen B to feed the evil monster his paper tribute?

Hello My Little Blueberries,

Beth Murch (a.k.a. Queen B, a.k.a. Mama B) here. Doula by day, spoken word artist by night.  I am trying to grow as a poet and as a human being, by travelling across Canada, meeting new people, and sharing my poetry. Recently, I won the opportunity to represent Kitchener-Waterloo at the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) in Vancouver, British Columbia. So exciting! While Kitchener-Waterloo Poetry slam is generously providing me with some financial aid, I simply do not make enough money as a doula in order to cover all the costs associated with the trip.

I am taking on all the extra work that I can, and living as simply as I can in order to save money, but I need your help.

I am someone who invests a lot of time, energy, and love into the world. I'm not called Mama B for nothing! I have dedicated my doula career to serving people in marginalized coummunities, and to making social justice-focused doula education accessible and affordable to everyone. I perform a tremendous amount of unpaid labour because I want to help people. I have financially sponsored other artists to the best of my ability so that they could go on the trips that I know I will never be able to afford to take myself. It is my hope that some of that the support that I have shown to others will be reflected back to me - not because I "deserve" it, but because this is what caring people do for each other. I help you when I can, and you help me when you can, and that's what makes this world a beautiful place. 

Spoken word is very important to me. It is so much more than a "hobby" to me - it is a lifeline. Writing and performing poetry keeps me alive. It helps me to gather energy to do the kind of birth work that I do. It helps me to feel less isolated. It is also something that I have been able to use to reach out to individuals who have felt unheard, underrepresented, and uncared for, especially young people. Competing at CIPS would allow me to learn from other artists, so that I can gather the skills I need in order to continue to serve my community. Your financial assistance is not just a symbol of encouragement for me, personally, but a representation of your belief that art can help people to heal, to become brave, and to learn to love again.

I have no plans to vacation lavishly. I have no problem living on side salads and tap water (or those tiny packets of ketchup). I promise that I will honour your investment by living responsibility, performing my very best, and bringing the warmth of your kindness with me to Vancouver.

If you can't afford to give financially, your words of love still sustain me and inspire me. It is as important to nourish the heart as it is the body, and I am grateful to know that you are cheering me on.

Thank you so much for believing in me, and for believing in the work that I do. I hope to make you proud.