Our Story
Based in Bridgeport, CT, We’ve Got Something To Say (W.G.S.T.S) was founded in January of 2023 after the unforeseen strike of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Fueled by her intrinsic passion for writing and human empowerment, Founder Sahmra "Supreme" Sawyer brought to life this idea of creating a poetry platform that juxtaposes spoken word and mental health, prompting and uplifting the community to learn, express, connect, and heal.
In January of 2023, (W.G.S.T.S) sold out their first 3 intimate, poetry events with 30 people, in what used to be the small lounge at the award winning restaurant, 29 Markle Ct. Since then, (W.G.S.TS) has grown into a community collective where Poets, Mental Health Professionals, Community Advocates, Musicians, and various Artists from all over from the Tri-State have become family.
The aim of (W.G.S.T.S) is to use the art of poetry and spoken word to encourage attendees to find their voice, aid in confidence building and self expression, and provide tools and resources that allow attendees to become conscious of ways to combat negative affects of life stressors that disrupt one's mental health, well-being, and creativity.
We facilitate mental health Q&A discussions with Professionals in the community, provide food service, free wellness raffle gifts, mental health games, live music, and open mic opportunities for Poets, Writers, and Lovers of the Art to share their art and their stories.
We aim to be real, not perfect, reminding ourselves and attendees that we are on this journey of learning and personal growth together, there is no right or wrong way to feel or heal, and we are a support along the way.
Our Founder
Sahmra Sawyer poetically known as Supreme Divinity was born and raised in the heart of Norwalk, CT. With both Caribbean and Southern roots, Sahmra grew up attuned to her senses where she began to follow whatever made her think and feel.
While attending Marvin Elementary School, she began an intrapersonal relationship through journaling at the age of 9 years old. This would be the catalyst for her becoming in the later years of young adulthood. She was introduced to poetry by her former Fourth Grade Teacher, Morgan Mazza where she wrote almost daily up until middle school. After stumbling across old journals from her adolescence in her senior year of high school, she rediscovered her passion for writing. "The timing couldn't have been more divine, journaling was much needed at the time."
After high school, Sahmra graduated from University of Connecticut in 2022 with a degree in Psychological Sciences.
In 2019, during her sophomore year of undergrad, she began working with a culture and wellness organization called SōlHaus, founded by Demetrius Glover, where she recited her original poetry for the first time aloud at one of their events in downtown Stamford, CT. She was later asked to MC for their future culture and wellness events where her journey as a Poet continued.
She interned with Connecticut College Corps as a Poetry Teacher at Side By Side Charter School, was featured in Edition 1 of Write On, Black Girl! (WOBG), UConn's Student Writer Magazine with the support and guidance of the Connecticut Writing Project (CWP), and was selected by Former Psychology Professor, Helen Garinger to be a Contributing Author in the publication, Surviving During A Pandemic: Reflections From Around the World, published by DioPress, where she shared her original poems and reflections.
A talented Writer and Spoken Word Poet, Supreme "Sahmra" Divinity has made appearances in schools and youth organizations, the Bijou Theatre, FOX 61 News, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Theatre Works Hartford, Nublu NYC, Bowery Poetry, and Brooklyn Poets.
She continues to use poetry to empower the community, currently, as an MSW student at Fairfield University. Sahmra has served as a Youth Mentor for the Norwalk Mentor Program and as an Adolescent Psych Mental Health Worker in an impatient behavioral health hospital; using poetry as a tool to improve self esteem and emotional regulation in youth struggling to cope through adverse experiences.
Aware of the mental health crisis following COVID-19, in January of 2023, she founded We've Got Something To Say (W.G.S.T.S) with the mission to create safe spaces where voices are heard using the transformative power of storytelling and the arts. Sahmra is dedicated to promoting mental and well-being through both clinical practice and creative expression. At (W.G.S.T.S), she combines her passions for advocacy, mental health, and poetry, and spoken word to build solidarity that empowers and equips individuals and communities with long lasting well-being for the many years to come.