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work to inspire Someone You Should Know: Jasmine Mans Making art a way of life By Elishah Oesch Bright lights, thick black curtains and a large open stage. That's all it takes for Jasmine Mans to feel right at home. The UW-Madison junior has been involved in all areas of the arts throughout her life, but today, she's honing her craft as a poet and author. "Poetry and writing is not just a hobby. It's really a craft that I choose to master," she says with confidence. Mans is doing just that through the First Wave Spoken Word and Hip Hop Arts Learning Community. A unique multicultural aca- demic community of UW-Madison students, First Wave provides students the chance to live, study and create together as they earn their degrees. Chris Walker, artistic director of the program, says it is highly competitive to get in, and students work very hard once they're admitted. He was a big part of choosing Mans for the pro- gram because he saw something special in her work, and still does. "I see not just a poet but an artist whose work has impact and a wider reach," he says, echoing the program's goal of helping students create art that reaches people, effects change and allows students to express themselves in a positive fashion. Mans' ever-growing résumé speaks to just how hard she's work- ing to meet not only the program's goals, but her personal mission as well. Among her many accolades, Mans has won several poetry and speech contests and, most recently, was named one of Glamour Magazine's Top 10 College Women of 2012. She's also been fea- tured at venues including HBO's Brave New Voices, the Kennedy Center and the New York Knicks Off Broadway Poetry Slam, and has been named a Russell Simmons Poet and a Sundance Film Fes- tival performer. Today, Mans is adding a new title to her résumé: Author. This month, Mans' first poetry collection, "Chalk Outlines of Snow Angels," is being released. One of the poems included in the book, "Dear First Lady," has already been featured on the TV show "Monique." While her list of accomplishments continues to reach impressive book because I want it to be good," she says. But more important than her pursuit of excellence is her passion "I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm so numb when it comes to this to help people, if only in some small way, through her art. Mans aims to support young black women, inspiring them to achieve their dreams, "find their passion and pursue it relentlessly." "It's my literal everyday walk of life," she adds. "I get to help people in the most creative way." The overall themes of her work, such as dedication, truthfulness, lengths, like any new author, Mans has jitters about how her work will be received. Elishah Oesch is a co-anchor or WKOW 27s Wake Up Wisconsin. Find more about Mans at wkow.com. ••• education, and a passion for life, are universal. Mans says, no mat- ter who you are or what you were born into, "we should all seek God, seek art, and seek what you love." Nonprofit Profile: The First Wave Spoken Word and Hip Hop Arts Learning Community What it is: A unique learning program that brings a group of young, multicultural artists together to live, learn and create while working toward degrees at UW-Madison. What it does: Helps students connected with faculty, staff, artists and professionals to bring spoken word and other art forms together, while giving students guidance in professional development. Why it's unique: The First Wave community is the first university program in the country centered on spoken word and hip-hip culture, and also travels the world as the First Wave Hip Hop Ensemble. How it works: Students must apply and be selected to take part in the program, which of- fers a unique curriculum and academic assistance through- out the students' coursework at UW-Madison. How to learn more: Visit omai.wisc.edu 34 BRAVA Magazine June 2012 Photo by Amber Arnold