Devin's Story

Greetings and welcome! My name is Devin James Baldwin and professional writing represents a new chapter in my life and career. Since 2002, I have worked primarily in the non-profit and human service field. My roles have consisted of everything from case worker, to workforce development, to training coordinator. Currently, I work for a Santa Fe based non-profit that assists young adults with GED academic preparation, workforce training, and life skills development. Specifically, I work with young people to help them develop soft skills and become job and career ready. This has been extremely fulfilling and rewarding work.
Over the past 15 years, I have had the honor and privilege of working with a variety of people, ranging from: individuals with intellectual disabilities; adjudicated youth; and low-income families receiving government assistance. Each of these experiences increased my empathy, compassion, and desire to be of service to those who face discrimination and marginalization.
Prior to going back to college, I never considered using writing as a vehicle to create social change. This changed while finishing my undergraduate Capstone project at the University of Denver. I discovered that my perspective was very different from many of my peers, and that people were interested in the challenges I faced through my work. I also became aware that many of the peer-reviewed, academic journals required for my research did not reflect the cultural narrative of African Americans, Native Americans, and other historically underrepresented groups. The absence of these perspectives fueled my desire to prove their necessity and validity. I wanted bring attention to voices that have been silenced, oppressed, and ignored.
The M.A. in Professional Writing program at New England College has provided a supportive and nurturing environment to explore these difficult narratives. Over the course the program, I have used my writing as a tool to challenge the dominant cultural assumptions about race, cultural identity, and other human experiences. This has become my motivation for writing--to bring attention to the experiences of the marginalized and ensure that those voices are represented within literary discourse.
On June 7, 2019, I published my debut chapbook, entitled: Black Matters: Poems & Prose. My book is available for purchase on Amazon.com; https://www.amazon.com/Black-Matters-Devin-James-Baldwin/dp/1071013068/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=devin+james+baldwin&qid=1561934337&s=gateway&sr=8-4.
Thank you for taking the time to explore my website. I hope you find its content to be meaningful, reflective and honest. Feel free to contact me with inquiries, freelance opportunities or comments.
Warm Regards,
Devin James Baldwin
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