🎤 SGLAI Voices: Spotlight on Diovanni F.

“We just get left out because we not what they want... but we really got a lot of knowledge.”

In our recent Locked Achievements gallery, one poem stood out for its raw honesty and lyrical power: “Misunderstood” by Diovanni F. His words cut deep, challenging assumptions and lifting up the lived truths of youth in underserved communities.

“They don’t want to listen to what I got to say, because they look and see another person from the hood.” — from “Misunderstood”

In a follow-up interview, Diovanni sat down with SGLAI Executive Director Elgin Bokari to reflect on his creative journey, his reaction to being a featured artist, and what needs to change for young people like him.

“That’s a blessing, man. I ain’t gonna lie.” — Diovanni on his poem being the most played piece in the gallery

"I never thought I’d be a published artist." Diovanni shared that seeing his work printed in the exhibition catalog was surreal—especially knowing how many people connected with his words. He wrote the poem after listening to music that helped him focus and process his reality.

The day Diovanni wrote Misunderstood, we critiqued Lil Durk's song All My Life featuring J. Cole.

“We just don’t get enough support or options.” — from “Misunderstood”

“They see something I’m seeing now.” Diovanni reflected on how his poem gave others a glimpse into his potential—something he’s always known deep down, but hadn’t felt seen for until now.

“I feel like there should be more programs that could help kids express themselves—coloring, drawing, rapping, poems…” — Diovanni on what young people need more of

“We could be the next person to do something big... but instead they leave us out like we are nothing.” — from “Misunderstood”

Why This Matters Diovanni’s story is a testament to the power of youth voice when given the platform to be heard. He reminded us that the challenges young people face are systemic, but their resilience is deeply creative. Programs like SGLAI don’t just offer art workshops—they offer space to be seen, and that space changes lives.

We’ll continue to amplify these stories in our upcoming catalog and events. Want to support the next generation of poets, artists, and visionaries? Join us.

📝 Stay tuned for more stories from Locked Achievements in our next newsletter drop.