Spoken word and shared stories transform hearts at ‘Illuminating Voices’

Six people stands at the front of a room decorated for an event, with onlookers seated around them and balloons in the background. An artist performs in the background. Everyone is dressed in formal white attire.

Artists of the Illuminating Voices 2025.

A young man stands a mic reciting a poem.

Dr. Anthony Blacksher at Illuminating Voices.

On Saturday, July 26, the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) hosted Illuminating Voices, a free community poetry event that moved hearts and minds through the power of spoken word. Inspired by the Into Light exhibition, featuring original portraits and personal stories of individuals lost to the disease of drug addiction, the evening served as a powerful reminder of the humanity behind the headlines and the healing potential of art.

Held at the Garcia Center for the Arts in downtown San Bernardino in partnership with Arts Connection, the event brought together poets, musicians and community members to honor lives lost and shift the narrative around addiction. The collaboration aims to foster meaningful dialogue and educational programming that addresses the realities of substance use disorder with compassion and clarity.

The evening’s performances were deeply personal and profoundly moving. Poet Alyssa Barton shared her piece Humanizing the Struggle, declaring:

“So let’s humanize the struggle, let’s end the fight,
see us for who we are—strong and full of light.
Because beneath every battle, every tear we’ve cried,
There’s a soul that’s worthy, who just wants to feel alive”.

The featured poet, Dr. Anthony Blacksher, delivered two transformative pieces, including “This is a love poem,” which resonated deeply with the audience:

For all I know of love in America,
This is a love poem

For the shame
For the silence
For the crashing out and violence
For the missing pills in the medicine cabinet
Realizing their children are affected by this
To the person who got treatment
Who relapsed
Who got treatment
And relapsed again
For an entire church full of people in mourning that it ended like this

For the first time we saw addiction
For the health crisis it is
Where we could cry out loud
Help publicly
Mourn without feelings of guilt and hopelessness

For people
For communities
For finding the best of ourselves
In the loved ones we sketch to keep alive
This is a life poem
This is a light poem
For all I know the meaning of love
This is a love poem

The event was hosted by poet Tawon Green and produced by Donnie Harris, with coordination by Carol McDonald. The lineup featured an array of talented voices, including vocalists and poets Kiara Gomez, Sierra Sellers, Clem De Le Creme, Joseph Draper and Kyandra May. Musical accompaniment was provided by pianist Khaleb Esquivel and bassist Nathan Pence.

Illuminating Voices was more than an event. It was a call to empathy, a celebration of resilience, and a space for healing. It reminded us that behind every statistic is a story, and behind every story is a person worth remembering.

To view the event photo album, visit: https://dbhproteam.pixieset.com/illuminatingvoices2025/

Join the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health for the INTO LIGHT Family Panel & Closing Reception, an evening of reflection, connection and continued hope.

Event details:

Thursday, August 14
10:00 a.m. – Noon

Garcia Center for the Arts, 536 West 11th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410

This special event brings together the courageous families who participated in the INTO LIGHT Project to share their stories, honor their loved ones lost to the opioid crisis, and inspire continued awareness and compassion. Through an open panel discussion, families will reflect on the experience of memorializing their loved ones, the impact of the exhibit, and their ongoing efforts to break stigma and bring hope to others.

The evening will also celebrate the community’s role in fostering healing and prevention. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with behavioral health resources, and stand together in remembrance and resilience.

To RSVP, visit https://www.eventcreate.com/e/intolightfamilypanel.

Additional County Update News – August 7, 2025