06 Feb Antioch Poet MoeMinistry Uses Words to Heal and Inspire

Monique McCoy is an Antioch poet also known as MoeMinistry. (Photo courtesy of Monique McCoy)

Interview, Arionna White

Black History Month is about not only honoring the past but also uplifting those shaping the present. One such voice is Antioch poet Monique McCoy, known as MoeMinstry, who is everything our ancestors dreamed we could be. Through poetry rooted in reflection, faith and lived experience, McCoy uses her words to heal, challenge and inspire. Over the past few years, she has become a growing presence in local performance spaces and community programs. To learn more about her journey and her work, Contra Costa Pulse spoke with McCoy about how poetry, purpose and community intersect in her life.

Contra Costa Pulse: What first drew you to poetry, and when did you realize your words could heal people — including yourself?

Monique McCoy: Well, my first love is hip-hop, so poetry has always been a part of my life. Since I was an adolescent, I’ve had a passion for writing music and rhyme. Although I never thought I would be a poet, I kind of rounded back to poetry later in life. During one of my times of reflection in 2017, poetry resurfaced in my writing process. I’ve always been big on writing my thoughts. I realized my words could heal people when it became healing for me. The more I transferred those thoughts from my mind to the world the more I began to find my voice and feel free.”

Contra Costa Pulse: What has been the biggest recent step forward in your poetry journey?

Monique McCoy: I’ve taken my poetry and knowledge to the classroom. Recently, I’ve partnered with ARTSCCC and joined an amazing team of facilitators. We’re a part of a new arts program called The Youth Arts Connection. We are teaching music and poetry to the youth each week at our local libraries here in East Contra Costa County. Teaching is new for me, yet it has been so rewarding already being able to extend my knowledge and see these teens blossom.

Contra Costa Pulse: Your work often blends self-discovery, pain and truth-telling. How do those elements show up in your writing process?

Monique McCoy: I am an observer. I see things around me, and I am always dissecting situations. As an artist and a lover of self-development, it naturally comes out in my writing. Overcoming my own obstacles and “getting out of my own way” has a huge influence in my writing. I want to help other people get unstuck.

Contra Costa Pulse: What do you hope people take with them after hearing your work performed live?

Monique McCoy: I hope people realize that we are all more alike than different. There’s some baseline human experiences that connect us. I want people to leave my presence with questions and clarity. Questions are a result of self-awareness and intentionality. Clarity is a hidden jewel that a lot of people never find because they lack self awareness which comes through asking questions.

Contra Costa Pulse: Have any performances or opportunities pushed you to grow or step outside your comfort zone?

Monique McCoy: Absolutely. The last two years, I’ve partnered with the city of Brentwood for their annual Juneteenth festival. Being on that big stage is something else. But being asked to come back to be the voice of the poetry world for such an important celebration has been an honor. It made me realize the power of my voice and message is valued and needs to be heard in those spaces where the community gathers

Contra Costa Pulse: How does your community shape the way you write and what you choose to speak on?

Monique McCoy: My community influences my writing a lot. I speak about what’s really going on around me. I care about the people I share the community with so it’s easy to observe what’s going on and then write about it.

Contra Costa Pulse: You describe your work as a form of ministry. What does that look like in practice within the community?

Monique McCoy: Well, God showed me a while back that my true ministry is in the arts. It’s actually two-fold. The foundation being kindness and the delivery through poetry being truth and self-development. I do my best to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Especially homeless people. I take time to find out their names and have small talk with people I encounter. When it comes to poetry, my goal is always to spark a flame of consciousness and hope to anyone who is willing to receive my art.

Contra Costa Pulse: How do spirituality and creativity intersect for you? Do you see your poems as a form of prayer or affirmation?

Monique McCoy: My spirituality is the foundation of how I think, live and respond to what’s around me. The poems are more affirmational and motivational.

Contra Costa Pulse: How have you navigated performing in spaces where people may not share your spiritual perspective?

Monique McCoy: I’ve never had any negative experiences. Through discernment, I’m mindful of certain spaces that don’t line up with my spirit. But I’m also not afraid to be amongst others who think differently than me. My love for community keeps me grounded just as much as my spirituality.

Contra Costa Pulse: What does poetry allow you to explore or express that might be difficult to say otherwise?

Monique McCoy: The beautiful thing about poetry and storytelling is the freedom to speak in third person. You can still share your hard truths with discretion and still heal. I feel like poetry is so sacred and spiritual that anyone who decides to enter into this world of art knows that it is a safe space to be honest. If I wasn’t a writer, I’d probably still be trying to find myself.

Contra Costa Pulse: What advice would you give to artists who are coming out of Antioch today?

Monique McCoy: Don’t worry about who hasn’t done what you’ve done before. Just do it. Don’t worry about what people think or don’t understand. Just do it. Immerse yourself in the craft and dedicate yourself to discipline. So many great people really got it out the mud, and you just might be that diamond in the rough.