Bold Journey

This article was published in Bold Journey on October 17, 2024. We’ve copied it below, but you can also read it here.

We were lucky to catch up with Bruja Thevillain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruja, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only one in the room that looks like me has taught me resilience. I’ve had to navigate spaces where I’m both seen and unseen—seen for the stereotypes people place on me and unseen for the brilliance I bring. In a world filled with misogyny and racist stereotypes, I’ve had to be better than the limitations people try to impose on me. I’ve had to be sharper, more skilled, and more disciplined to overcome both the blatant and subtle obstacles. It’s not just about succeeding for myself—my success shatters those expectations and shows others what’s possible. I don’t wait for permission. I make space where there was none, knowing others will benefit from my persistence. I make room for art culture, whether its music, painting or poetry, I trust my talent, my bravery, and my work ethic to push past the ignorance and rise above. At the end of the day, I refuse to be limited by anyone’s small-mindedness and if I have to do it scared, I’ll do it anyway.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

As a multidisciplinary artist with over 30 years in the art industry, my work spans, visual, and literary arts. In addition to my creative practice, I also model and style, constantly seeking new ways to express myself and inspire others. One of my greatest passions is The Poets Cauldron, a platform I founded to bring together spoken word artists, musicians, and visual artists in a space that celebrates culture, creativity, and community. What initially drove me to create The Poets Cauldron was a deep concern for the gentrification happening in our city. I felt we were losing our culture, and I wanted to build a dam to protect it. Often, I would find myself in spaces where I didn’t feel comfortable as I didn’t see any other BIPOC people in the places where we once spent time together sharing our stories, listening to our music, speaking our language, being ourselves. Now, as the community has grown, it feels like I’m building bridges—connecting artists, preserving culture, and revitalizing the city from within. The most exciting part of The Poet’s Cauldron is watching this space empower people from all walks of life. Whether they’re seasoned performers or new voices, everyone has a chance to share their story. We are multicultural, multigenerational and all inclusive. I take pride in knowing this is exactly what the City of Worcester needs. A SAFE space for all LGBTQ+A and BIPOC people.

Our monthly events, featuring live music from MeloGreen and I BrujaTheVillain as your Host are a true celebration of artistic expression. Currently, we’re expanding our offerings to include more workshops, poetry slams, and collaborations with like-minded organizations. We’re also working on securing grant support as we have teamed up with Worcester County Poetry Association (WCPA) to make these events more accessible to marginalized communities, ensuring that culture remains alive and thriving despite financial or societal barriers. Whether through visual art, fashion, or spoken word, my work challenges societal norms, uplifts voices, and ensures that we hold onto our cultural roots while building a more inclusive future.

Our next event will be held on October 6, 2024 from 6 to 9pm at The White Room located at 138 Green St. Sponsored by Femme Bar and Bedlam Book Cafe Featuring poetry and music Genie Santiago.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, building genuine relationships, and staying informed. First, trauma has been my motivation—every obstacle I’ve faced has pushed me to keep creating and pushing boundaries. I always tell people, ‘If you’re worried, anxious, or scared, just do it scared. Fear is natural, but it shouldn’t stop you from doing what you love. Second, I’ve learned the importance of developing genuine relationships with other artists. Community is everything!!! If you want to go to an event to be seen and heard, you must be willing to stop, look, and listen to another artist. Show up for others, support them, and they’ll support you in return. Lastly, research and knowledge have been crucial. Get involved with art culture—art truly saves lives. Understanding the history and context of the art world, and knowing your place in it, empowers you to contribute in meaningful ways. For those early in their journey, I’d say don’t be afraid to reach out to others, study the art forms you love, and embrace the struggles. The journey won’t be easy, but it will be worth it, and it feels so good when others join you because they are also on the same journey to art and love.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe it’s essential to go all in on our strengths while also investing effort into improving areas we aren’t as strong in. This dual approach keeps us rooted in what we excel at, giving us confidence, while also pushing us to evolve. Growth comes from challenging ourselves to step outside of comfort zones, even if it feels uncomfortable, like I said before I do it scared. Like practicing speech even when performance seems natural. I can relate to this personally. For example, I have been creating art for over 30 years, but I still practice because, no matter how good I may be at something, there’s always room for growth. I never want to limit myself. There are days when my complex post-traumatic stress makes it difficult to even pick up a pen or paintbrush, and yet, I push myself to keep learning, even if it feels like I’m starting from scratch. I believe in this approach because growth is constant, and perfection is an illusion. Even in moments of breakdown, pulling away for self-preservation can allow space for regeneration. We owe it to ourselves to fully embrace our strengths and know there is always more to learn. It’s through this balance that I’ve been able to navigate my artistic career, even when my body and mind feel like they’re on the edge. This is where the resilience comes in—acknowledging both our power and our capacity to grow through struggle. The struggle is always beautiful, never perfect.