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Mario F. Wright

@influentialfinesse

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🐘 Founder & Executive Director, Beyond City Limits | Poet | 5x Author @beyondcitylimits_youth
| Community of Youth | Creative Journey &
Programs ⬇️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Took our Newark youth (right of Founder) off the streets and onto the set, acting in a poetry video for Street Education in a collaboration project with young Bronx students from @thecinemaschool.official (left of Founder)

Our young people deserve spaces to be seen, heard, and empowered. This is why @beyondcitylimits_youth exists.

These stories matter…

#newarknj #thebronx #poetry #videography #storytelling #youthmentoring taken in Bronx New York by @influentialfinesse

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2 years ago

When we discover our genius, we gain the power to rewrite the story that they wrote for us.

I enter the room as a storyteller to let them know that genius lives in us all.

#youthempowerment #fullcirclemoment #representationmatters #literacymatters #blackexcellence #fromtheblocktothebooks #inspirethefuture #readtolead #communitystrong taken in East Orange, New Jersey by @influentialfinesse

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a year ago

We met 20 years ago here📍and became #brothers and now we’ve returned to the youth center that once held us. Not with a sentence this time, but to bring hope to the next generation.

The same tables we ate at, the same dorms we slept in, same gym we played and fought in, with 20 years of youth passing through behind us. Back then, we never saw anyone like us come in and share their story. We know how little—places like this often have to offer, so coming back was important.

And the youth dug it. Not only at Greenridge Youth Center but Backbone Mountain and Victor Cullen, a total of three facilities we ran programming and created a space where they felt comfortable to speak, be heard, gain insight, and imagine new possibilities, knowing that there are people out here rooting for them.

Please make sure you’re tuned in to our nonprofit page @beyondcitylimits_youth where you’ll find much more of this work to come, and help us turn it up!

Special thanks to everyone who supported this vision—the impact we made is also your impact, made possible through your support. And we’re glad to share this experience with you all.

#youthempowerment #beyondcitylimits #poeticfreedom #youthcenters by @influentialfinesse

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a year ago

He art’ing… by @influentialfinesse

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7 days ago

Hart Middle kicked me out of school in 6th grade. I was 11.

Alternative school for the next couple years, only prepared me for jail. Still got straight A’s!

When we moved from Jersey to Maryland, they tested us and held us all back.

I got my GED while locked up as a kid—before I would’ve even graduated high school.

School couldn’t keep up with me!

Now, Associate in Arts, just the start…

Moral of the story: Don’t let these systems make our children feel like they don’t belong.

We’re here to learn. Learn how to live and learn how to disrupt the bs.

And just know, some children are growing up faster than teachers in some ways, and sitting at that classroom may be too slow for them.

@beyondcitylimits_youth #youthmentorship #education by @influentialfinesse

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24 days ago

Good men will always trend.

#healthyliving #poetry #percussions #phillyjerseynewyork taken in West Philly by @influentialfinesse

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a month ago

Somebody has to say it.

Whitey on the Move!

In the tradition of Gil Scott-Heron—
with poetry and truth, we hold a mirror up to society.

Words by @influentialfinesse 👊🏽
Drums by @iamcoachkeyz 🪘
Filmed by @nimihendrix 🎞️
Special thanks to @gialogik 🤞🏽
blessing this piece

#poetry #spokenwordartist #percussion #poeticfreedom #gilscottheron taken in New York, New York by @influentialfinesse

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a month ago

I think this is a favorite word of mine by @influentialfinesse

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a month ago

We say kids don’t read anymore…

But they sure do smile 😊 when you give them a book 📚

Grateful to the Jersey City community for welcoming me to such a wholesome #MindYaMental event with @dr.shakoor_ and @rootedrcoach_therapist. ❤️‍🩹🖤

A lot of healing energy in that room. We needed that. I did. Much more to come. I appreciate connecting with you all

#JerseyCity #YouthLiteracy #CommunityHealing #beyondcitylimits taken in Jersey City, New Jersey by @influentialfinesse

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a month ago

We outside for the Black Mental Health Forum this weekend in Jersey City.

The job world makes us dependent on employers for healthcare. Without quality jobs, we often don’t have access to quality insurance or quality care. I can’t afford therapy right now…

But we can be a resource for each other.

My 📚 are therapy. taken in Jersey City, New Jersey by @influentialfinesse

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a month ago

Keep going…

Send this to someone that you appreciate what they’re doing and want to see them keep going. We need that reminder sometimes.

Let’s go! by @influentialfinesse

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2 months ago

🕊️ I’m posting this to celebrate you 👑 @amanformine89

Someone asked me do I have someone to talk to about this but it was you I liked talking to when I was going through things. I appreciate you. Appreciate how we met, locked up as kids together— now giving it back to the youth. Appreciate how you always pulled up pulled out the red carpet when I was in town. Appreciate how you always answered that phone. Appreciated our time. Appreciate what we were building. But I got it from here bro 🤞🏽

If I knew texting you yesterday was the last, I would said I love you.

We’ll see eachother again my brother 🫡 by @influentialfinesse

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2 months ago