LYNDON - From working with Macklemore, to speaking in front of a small group of aspiring writers at Lyndon State College, Rajnii Eddins sure has a lot to say about self love, creativity and courage.
Derived from Seattle, Washington, Eddins has been performing poetry for over twenty years, engaging with diverse audiences. At 11-years-old, Eddins became the youngest member of the African American Writers Alliance and honing his craft at the Seattle Center in local bookshops and cafes.
"I came with a mantra of positive acclimation, saying wherever I go, I'm going to open another doorway, find an opportunity and let my art and my passion and my love and integrity, sincerity lead the way to opening more opportunities that I'm devoted to," said Eddins.
At the ripe age of 17, he was chosen as the first youth poet to read original works to the Seattle City Council, as well as represented the city in the poetry slam in 2004-2005.
Using his passion and love for art, Eddins was able to create Poetry Experience, an opportunity for young writers to use poetry as an outlet, a way to express themselves in a way that they may have not been able to before. The Poetry Experience has been able to open the door for some incredibly talented writers, such as Ben Haggerty, known to most as Macklemore.
According to Eddin's mother, Randee Eddins, Haggerty isn't the only one who has gone on to see success after joining this group.
"He actually started in our group. Ben started with the Poetry Experience as a writer, so we've had some people that have gone on to really great success doing different things," said Eddins.
Eddins even had advice for aspiring writers to share. "The big thing is to just be open, to be able to be open to that chance, to be able to be open, and spread that opportunity to other people," stated Eddins.
Eddins's mother is one of Eddins faithful fans, who taught her son to think creatively.
"Rajnii has always been creative, because I was known as my family's writer and I was determined to not be the only one. So I drove my son toward being creative, because that was my love, the dramatic arts, and I was writing creative plays and getting him involved in those types," said Randee Eddins.
Aside from helping to create the Poetry Experience, Rajnii serves as the Executive Director to the Experience, which is hosted at the Fletcher Free Library as well as being a member of the hip-hop group Bless the Child.
Eddins has done all of this with one purpose in mind, affirming positive self-identity and sincere community relationship based on integrity, reverence for heritage and mutual respect.
Rajnii has resided in Burlington, Vermont for five years with his daughter.