Will Richey

Will Richey is an award-winning spoken word artist, teacher, and creative director who has left an imprint across North Texas and beyond by mixing and melding original poetry performances in workshops, speaking engagements and the production of interactive events.

The heartbeat of his work engages people of all ages, cultures, creeds, and backgrounds while empowering each unique voice to connect and identify with personal and collective acknowledgment, self-expression and growth. From school districts to art districts, drug and alcohol prevention and recovery organizations to college campuses and churches, Richey enjoys cultivating experiences of strength, healing, and hope.

The University of Dallas recognized Will in Tower magazine as one of “11 Alumni Who Have Found Success in Uncharted Territory.” Their piece, “How to Guide a Community towards Emotional Literacy,” highlights his work as founder of Journeyman Ink and father of DaVerse Lounge, an under-21 spoken word, live music and visual art event that has been a beacon of intergenerational inspiration since 2005. The event includes mentoring program and a “DaVerse Works: Power of Voice” curriculum for schools and youth organizations.

For over a decade, Richey leads teaching artists in Big Thought’s Creative Solutions, summer theater and visual arts program for youth on probation in Dallas County. He has also partnered with Irving ISD since 2005 with their Write to be Heard and ESL Enrichment Programs, Karen Blessen’s 29 Pieces / MasterPEACE / Dallas Love Project, the Dallas Children’s Theater’s, “Baker Idea Institute,” and as content producers for the Embrey Family Foundation and Dallas Faces Race’s “Implicit Bias” social media campaign.

Richey showcased his work and collaborative performances at TEDxSMU: “DaVerse Lounge – The Power of Voice,” the Embrey Human Rights Program’s inaugural “Triumph of the Spirit” awards, The National Race Forward Conference, The National Performance Network’s 25th Anniversary Meeting, and the first ever Extra Yard for Teachers Summit, an initiative of the College Football Playoff Foundation.