Biography

JC Smith (she/her) comes from a long line of warrior women; they have always been strong, innovative, and courageous. One of her great-grandmas used to ride a Harley and worked at Boeing during World War II, riveting her family’s way to financial stability. Another great-grandma, emigrating from San Salvador to San Francisco, could see a dress in a store window and come home to sew an exact replica by hand. Yet another grandma raised seven children while getting her PhD. She became a professor of women’s studies, religion, and philosophy, as well as an artist and an author. JC’s closest grandma has nurtured her dreams from the first time their eyes met when she was born. And JC’s mom has impressed the power of inquiry, creativity, and intuition on her through nurturing her passionate pursuits of knowledge and innovative feats.

From caring tirelessly for aging mothers, to passing down traditions of delicacies, to going to whatever lengths necessary to protect their children, the women in her family are remarkable beings. They have been homemakers, teachers, librarians, waitresses, secretaries, laborers, writers, fighters, and lovers. JC has idolized every one of them and is proud to have followed in their footsteps—their legacies have laid her life’s foundation. 

While this foundation has been bonded with love, resilience, and strength, it has been also cemented with as many hardships; they have all had to endure abuse, addiction, codependency, depression, poverty, and suicide—many of them more than one of these. However, if it were not for these rocky roads and potholes, they would never have the fulfilling lives that they have lived and the ability to build resiliency and provide strength for those around them.

JC Smith dreamed of being an educator from an early age, and she eagerly pursued that dream right after high school. She now works and resides in Oregon’s beautiful Illinois Valley. In addition to teaching and learning from her students, she is also constantly amazed by the life and love lessons of her greatest teachers, her two children.

Artist Statement

I write to record my journey, however flawed or unfinished. As expressions of the strong emotions that fight to be heard, my words give life to my feelings; ranging from short rhymes to extended metaphors, from lyrical to haphazard, poetry embodies my life’s trials and triumphs.

Despite many dark detours (I don’t know where, or who, I would’ve been if I’d stayed on any of those unlit side trails), these diversions have colored who I am today. My past poetry paints those pictures.   

At this current lighted juncture, I know that every step I have taken–be it clumsy, surefooted, backward, or sideways–has landed me in this promising present full of possibilities.

I hold no grudges, no resentment, no guilt about my past. I have learned that we can only do our best at any given time, and I give my all at all times, whatever that might look like. I have found my power through poetry, my confidence in sharing, my raw reality in revelation. 

This is me. 

I am emPOWERed.

Appreciations & Dedications

I dedicate this chapter to all who may find meaning, connection, and hope in my creative expressions.