At an early age, Deneka felt like she needed an avenue to channel her experience. Her childhood was particularly difficult, and she confided in poetry. Her gift for storytelling transitioned into a love of advocacy, which allowed Deneka to use creative expression as a bridge. Through her art, she brings compassion and empowerment to folks struggling with like issues. At one point on the road to becoming a doctor, this all changed – the day Deneka heard her first spoken word poem. “It was more than simply wanting to express my creativity. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to effect social change, to challenge the status quo. I wanted to make statements about injustice and inequality. I wanted to share my story as a queer Caribbean woman.” In addition to writing and performing poetry, Deneka writes blogs and short stories. Recently, she’s curious about theatre and thinking about the element of drama in her work. Her work calls for women and girls’ rights, explores LGBTQI and social justice issues; at the same time offering a pure fascination with the earth and its ecology, what she terms her personal ecofeminism. She’s currently the Program Manager and Lead Teaching Artist of Girl Be Heard Trinidad and Tobago, and a Teaching Artist and poet with youth NGO The 2 Cents Movement, two organizations which empower and engage youth through the spoken word. Leveraging openness with regards to her identity is an ongoing challenge, given the risks. “My goal is to show the world that there are a number of narratives and unique stories waiting to be heard from the Caribbean.” Deneka would love to be able to tell stories of home in her local slang, but as a minority voice in the publishing industry, she feels that “doing this means I risk alienating our readers.” Upcoming she’ll be live at the National Poetry Slam in Trinidad and Tobago, producing a Chapbook and longer full collection, as well as pursuing a few social justice-oriented fellowships.