Wesley “WallStreet Wes” Robinson

Poet | Teaching Artist

Member since 2025

Wesley "WallStreet Wes" Robinson is a professional poet, educator, and creator of Poetry Clinics. Drawing from his lived experience, including incarceration, he uses poetry as a tool for dialogue, healing, and social change. Through workshops and performances, Robinson works alongside overlooked communities, listening to their stories and transforming those conversations into original poems. His work encourages meaningful conversations about justice, humanity, and collective responsibility.

Artist statement

I am a professional poet. I use poetry to help people have conversations that are often difficult to start. I believe poetry is an accessible way to explore social problems, build understanding, and inspire action.One of the ways I do this is through Poetry Clinics. I sit with overlooked communities, listen to their concerns, and transform what they share into poetry. My work is rooted in real-life experiences, including my own journey from the streets of Cleveland to prison and beyond. Those experiences continue to shape the way I write and the stories I choose to tell.I create because I believe words have the power to challenge assumptions, connect people across differences, and inspire change. My hope is that every poem leaves someone thinking more deeply, feeling more compassion, and believing that a better future is possible.