Dakohai Matityahu

"Art is not separate from governance — it is essential to it. Every poem is an invitation. Every stage is a circle."

Dakohai is a first-generation Haitian American raised in Boston, shaped by housing insecurity and a deep belief that creative expression is one of the most powerful tools a community has for building a more just world. His practice stands on three pillars: as an ordained priest in an African Diaspora Religion, spirituality is the foundation — informing how he understands healing and the sacred responsibility of community. As an independent restorative justice consultant, he partners with institutions of all kinds to move them from punitive systems toward something more human. And as a seven-year touring member of beheard.world, he uses spoken word, movement, and dialogue to open conversations that conventional approaches rarely reach. He brings lived experience, spiritual depth, and hard-won expertise to every room — whether that's an altar, a boardroom, a school hallway, or a stage.

My work exists at the intersection of performance, dialogue, and social change — where words become bridges, art becomes medicine, and communities reclaim their narratives. My spoken word practice is rooted in the oral traditions of my Haitian heritage, guided by the soul of classical and modern piano music that serves as the muse behind every piece I create. I perform not just to be heard, but to create conditions where others feel safe to speak. At the heart of my work is a commitment to becoming a modern-day storyteller — giving voice to those forgotten by time and erased by history. The stories that systems tried to silence, the lives that history chose to overlook — these are the stories I carry and the ones I am called to tell. This is not about creating art for a community. This is about co-creating with community — using spoken word, restorative practices, and collaborative art-making to help residents see themselves, hear Every poem is an invitation. Every stage is a circle.

- Restorative Justice Counselor Brockton School District · Current -Certified RJ Practitioner Center for Restorative Justice, Suffolk University -Core Member, beheard.world National touring spoken word ensemble · 7 years -Poet-Educator, Public Schools & Housing Boston Public Schools · Boston Housing Authority · Since 2020