After four years of slam poetry, activism, and self-expression, a simple follow on Twitter started Jenna Tenn-Yuk’s path to being the first recipient of the Tontine Award.
The Tontine Award is a micro-grant initiative worth $500 created to support the artistic female community in Ottawa. Tenn-Yuk, in particular, was rewarded with the first award for her initiative in starting projects which enable anyone to participate in spoken word poetry without competition.
“Jenna brings a unique voice to the creative fabric of the city through her passionate and layered spoken word,” Tontine member Erin Leigh said in a press release. “We are delighted that the Tontine Awards will allow her to provide free workshops to diverse members of the Ottawa-Gatineau community and support them in finding and speaking their voice.”
Tenn-Yuk’s monthly poetry show, Words to Live By, hopes to inspire artists in all walks of life to rediscover a passion.
“I want to create a space for people to create their voices,” she said. “A lot of people say that they used to write but school or work gets in the way of their passion. So, I want to encourage people to make time for their passion to bring life to what they’re doing.”
Her spoken word workshop is not all she does for the community.
Tenn-Yuk works in communications at the Canadian Mental Health Association in Ottawa.
Through filmed interviews online with affected mental health patients, Tenn-Yuk seeks to remove some of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
“I get to film and share people’s stories to give minorities a voice,” she said. “Their stories have touched me deeply and opened my eyes to a variety of experiences. I’ve seen pain and heartache, but also hope, resiliency, and creativity.”
While juggling spoken word poetry and a part-time job, Tenn-Yuk is currently completing her master’s thesis at the University of Ottawa.
Through examining the slam poetry in Ottawa, she said she hopes to showcase the changes in the local arts scene.
“Ottawa has seen a competitive and male-dominated art scene for many years,” she said. “Lately, the scene has shifted and there are a lot more female voices performing.”
Although slam poetry and speaking out about personal issues is her passion, it did not always start that way.
“I fell into slam poetry,” she said.
She said initially she didn’t want to perform, until her friends told her that her “voice was missing from the scene.”
“My first performances were done at open mics, and I continued to take little steps of courage,” she said. “In my own stories, there were areas where I was silent about certain experiences and I wish I had had the courage then to speak out about them.”
In the future, Tenn-Yuk said she hopes to help people find their voices and pursue their passions.
“People are afraid to pursue their passions because it is against the status quo or it isn’t practical. For me, I want to take the road less travelled.”
