Poets at Work: From Roses to Written ‘Wroses’

Poet Jordan Dixon is an author, poet, teacher, counselor, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and community organizer better known as Written Wrose. She was born in Long Beach, but spent most of her childhood and upbringing in Carson.

Her nickname was self-given to associate her identity with positivity, connection, and love. She further explains how her writing has impacted people by planting seeds in them, which later grow into flowers and gardens; hence why the words, roses and writing, were infused for the alias.

Writing and public speaking were first introduced to Jordan through her parents. Her mother received an Associate’s Degree in liberal arts and wrote many books, while her father worked in real estate, which made him a natural public speaker.

Jordan’s father implemented discipline and hard work early. He would pull her from fun activities as a kid, to deal with more serious aspects in life. This allowed Jordan to realize her potential as a student, employee, and creative.

“It made me better as far as work ethic,” Jordan said. “I have that push for myself. I may have my mom and dad, but ultimately I have to push myself because my mom and dad might not always agree.”

However, Jordan did not recognize her gift for writing until she was in high school. She wrote a poem about teen pregnancy as part of a class assignment and received positive feedback from her peers. She began writing more consistently on social media once she received additional reinforcements.

From then on, Jordan attended open mic events as much as possible on Tuesdays at Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles. The infamous Poetry Lounge is the largest and longest-running open mic in the nation. There, she discovered a wide variety of poets who helped her understand the power of words as an outlet.

Poetry registered in Jordan’s mind the need for relate-ability. It gave her the courage to serve her stories as a reminder for someone who is on the verge of giving up or is living in denial. Especially after recognizing the strength in her own abilities to accomplish anything she sets her mind to, regardless of the obstacles.

“Whatever you want to do, if you dedicate yourself to it, you can do it. It isn’t meant to break me,” she told me. “There is a deeper lesson or purpose in what I’m going through.”

Despite the response and compliments she receives, Jordan said she must always remind herself to express gratitude for people who support her work. She is deeply concerned with those who begin to change for the worse when their talent and growth is noticed.

“People don’t have to support me but they choose to. Although I might elevate higher none of that really matters if I’m not staying true to who I am,” she said.

On the other hand, Jordan sometimes feels her family is unable to fully understand her passions and pursuits. She is the first person in her family to become an entrepreneur, write a poetry book, and host events. Therefore, it has been a bit of an adjustment for them to watch her independence grow because they were not exposed to such options before.

“I don’t think they really know how much I do on the outside,” she explained. “They have an idea but they don’t realize how active I am or I want to be.”

Aside from poetry, Jordan is dedicated to furthering her education. She received her B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development at Cal State Northridge, and is currently working on a master’s degree in School Counseling at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

In addition, Jordan states the joy it brings her when she revisits the places where her journey started, specifically for the people who will be able to see themselves within her. For example, she works as a teacher for the Children’s Enrichment Center in Inglewood, and also works as a Recreation Leader for Parks and Recreation in the city of Bellflower.

It is one of Jordan’s many aspirations to eventually work with middle school and high school students as a counselor. She hopes to then develop this dialogue into workshops where people come together and discuss various perspectives on love, identity, and passion.

“That’s what’s so cool about writing. It can take you so many different places,” she said.

If you’re interested in keeping up with Jordan’s business venture, the Wroses, please refer to the social media outlets listed below. You can also purchase her book and e-book titled, Written Wroses, available now through Carlyle Enterprises.

Book: http://www.carlyleenterprises.com/books

The Wroses: https://www.instagram.com/thewroses/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writtenwrose/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/luvmenatural

Read the poem “Infinite Time” by Jordan Dixon below: