When Arts Speak, Communities Listen explores how creativity becomes a civic language—shaping identity, challenging misinformation, and giving voice to communities too often unheard. Through lived experience and cultural storytelling, LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens reveals how art doesn’t just reflect society—it activates it.
LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens is an award-winning spoken word poet, author, host, and arts educator whose work bridges storytelling, culture, and community empowerment. Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Lima, Ohio, he served six years in the United States Army, including two deployments to Iraq—an experience that shaped his voice and commitment to creative expression.
El’Ja has collaborated with major national arts and community organizations, including The Kennedy Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project, using poetry as a tool for healing, advocacy, and connection. He has been featured at notable cultural events such as the National Folk Festival and the Big Ears Festival, and currently serves as the Director of the Southeastern Regional NC Poetry Slam.
A former poetry slam champion with the Bull City Slam Team, El’Ja is a multiple award-winning poet whose performances and work have appeared on All Def Poetry, NPR, Amazon, and PBS. His artistry continues to inspire audiences while uplifting the literary arts across the Southeast and beyond.
