At just 24 years old, Kiya Vance has already become a defining voice in Corpus Christi’s literary community. Recently named the city’s first Black Poet Laureate, Vance’s love for the written word began in a sixth-grade English class, where writing offered him a sense of belonging and purpose.
Since then, he’s turned personal experiences into powerful spoken word and created inclusive spaces for others to do the same. Vance has done this most notably through Word of Mouth, a grassroots poetry night he co-founded. No stranger to filling voids in his community to allow others the feeling of representation, Vance is eager to use his new role as Poet Laureate to enhance the literary community and make the art of poetry more accessible.
Kylie Cooper: Before co-founding Word of Mouth and organizing events, what were some of the first spaces where you shared your work publicly? What did those early performances teach you?
Kiya Vance: Before Word of Mouth, I was hustling, desperately trying to get my words and music heard at any venue that would allow me! Ironically, one of the first was a restaurant called P.O.E.T.S. And of course, performing at The Exchange taught me so much, not just about performance, but about connecting with people and navigating the creative scene.
KC: Let’s talk about Word of Mouth. How would you describe it to someone who has never heard of you/the project?
KV: At its core, Word of Mouth (WOM) adapts to be whatever the community needs at any given moment; sometimes we’re like a label, other times a poetry organization or even marketing consultants for artists. Ultimately, WOM exists to bring diverse communities from all over town together. We aim to give local creatives opportunities to grow their crafts and connect with others who share their passion. Often, the very people we meet through our events become collaborators we work with to improve future events and give back even more effectively. Our focus has always been on giving far more than we take.
KC: What does it mean to you to be named Corpus Christi’s first Black Poet Laureate?
KV: Honestly, it feels a bit like when I won awards for academic decathlon or UIL competitions as a kid. While I am incredibly grateful, and I feel like I’ve finally made my family proud, I mainly see this as a stepping stone. There’s so much more I want to achieve in the future.
KC: How do you envision this role shaping the literary culture of Corpus Christi over the next year or two?
KV: I hope to bring more open minds into the literary community and get more people of all ages involved in becoming a well-read, well-informed city. Rap music is often stigmatized, but for some, it’s their primary engagement with the literary arts. Having a rapper as Poet Laureate is a significant opportunity to showcase that rap is more than capable of being recognized as a powerful art form, just like any other type of literature.
Think about it: If kids are writing lyrics and sharing music, their friends might start writing poetry too. What English teacher wouldn’t want their students discussing the intricacies of lyrics, analyzing literary techniques like double entendres, similes and descriptive language that can be on par with Shakespeare? All these elements are used in both rap and poetry. The more kids writing, the better. An open-minded, diverse community of writers benefits everyone involved.
KC: As you’ve mentioned, your work often blends poetry with music and performance. What draws you to this multidisciplinary approach?
KV: In my eyes, there’s essentially no fundamental difference between the various mediums an artist might choose for expression. While it’s true that each craft has its unique properties, core expression is like a body of water. The specific craft—poetry, music, visual art—is simply the vessel carrying that water. The artist is like a gardener who decides which vessel to use and how to use it. The audience is the soil; after receiving the water (the expression), they can grow, perhaps into a plant or fruit which, in turn, can sustain the gardener. It’s my goal to demonstrate this realization through my work. Joseph Kosuth’s conceptual piece “One and Three Chairs” is a major inspiration for me on this topic.
KC: You’ve mentioned a desire to make poetry more accessible. What does that look like in practice?
KV: Encouraging people to create and participate in local poetry events is definitely part of it, but that’s only one aspect. Real accessibility means showing artists, not just poets, how to properly market themselves and build a sustainable living from their amazing art. We need to demonstrate this through both action and consultation. It’s almost impossible to fully realize one’s skill and talent if they’re constantly worrying about bills and staying alive or even something as simple as working too many hours at work. I want to educate people and show them that it can be done in practice.
KC: How do your personal experiences and cultural background influence your voice as a writer and now as the city’s Poet Laureate?
KV: As a Black man in a city with relatively few Black men, I feel a strong responsibility. I want to help spark an ideological shift, contributing to a cultural landscape where people are truly seen as equals when it comes to whose art gets promoted and who receives support from their city, for better or for worse.
KC: If you could host a poetry reading or workshop anywhere in the city, where would it be, and why?
KV: It would absolutely be the Watergarden. That is the place. It’s such a historic landmark, and one day people will look back at that spot as one of the most influential venues in Corpus Christi! As of now, the main thing stopping me from already hosting something there is funding.
KC: What do you hope your legacy as Poet Laureate will be for the next generation of artists in Corpus Christi?
KV: I hope that after I move on from this position, my footsteps will have tilled the ground, making the path to positive change less hard and compacted for those who come after me. Maybe it’ll be easier for them to water those seeds of creativity we talked about earlier!
KC: Are there any projects you’re currently working on that we should keep an eye out for?
KV: I’m juggling about 10 different projects and albums right now, but the most important one, and the one coming up soonest, is my collaboration album titled ONE DAY NEVER. I have to give a huge shoutout to my team for helping make this dream a reality! Batotter Aiden Vara, and Boywise—a big thank you to them.
