CULTURES OF ART, POETRY & STORIES

I didn’t choose this cover because it looked the best. I chose it because it told the truth. I went through multiple directions, each one strong in its own way. Some were clean. Some leaned heavy into culture. Others pushed symbolism. But none of them held the full weight of what this issue represents. This one did. It stayed with me because it captures both sides of transformation. Not just what we become, but what it takes to get there. What you see is the butterfly, but I don’t stop there. I think about the cocoon. That quiet, unseen place where change happens without recognition. That cocoon can exist anywhere. In any field, any culture, any tree, any environment. It doesn’t matter where it forms. Growth is not limited by where it starts. What matters is what comes out of it. The butterfly carries that truth. It reflects evolution shaped by pressure, experience, and identity. The world around it matters too. The colors, the layers, the different cultural expressions. They are not j...

Empowering the Independent Voice: A Spotlight on Ashanti Taylor-Alexander The literary landscape is undergoing structural change. Authority is no longer confined to traditional institutions. Instead, it is being redistributed through platforms built on authenticity, access, and intentional storytelling. At the center of this shift is Ashanti Taylor-Alexander, a publishing leader reshaping how writers are seen, heard, and supported. Building a Platform from Purpose Ashanti’s entry into publishing was not driven by industry ambition, but by a clear recognition of exclusion within creative spaces. Where many voices were waiting for validation, she chose to build an alternative pathway. "Ashanti was motivated by what is described as ‘too many voices whispering when they deserved to roar.’" This guiding philosophy became the foundation of Pulse, a publishing platform designed to elevate emerging writers and protect narrative integrity. Pulse as a...