Dakohai Matityahu

"Art is not separate from governance — it is essential to it. Every poem is an invitation. Every stage is a circle." Raised in Boston as the oldest child of two Haitian immigrant parents who had just become citizens, Dakohai came of age navigating housing insecurity and systemic inequity. As a first-generation Haitian American, those experiences forged a belief that runs through every dimension of his practice: that creative expression is among the most powerful tools a community has for imagining and building a more just public life. For seven years, Dakohai has toured nationally as a core member of beheard.world, a social-justice-driven spoken word ensemble whose performances across New England, the Deep South, and the Midwest have used poetry, movement, and facilitated dialogue to open civic conversation where conventional approaches fall short. Since 2020, he has embedded this work directly in Boston public schools and public housing.

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