Word is Bond, The Black Stars - Official Trailer

The official trailer of the documentary, the Black Stars, from the Rose City to the Gold Coast presented by Word is Bond. The documentary premiered live on January 11, 2024, at the historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon.

The Black Stars, from the Rose City to the Gold Coast, is the coming-of-age story of eight young Black men from Portland, Oregon, who travel to Ghana for a two-week leadership expedition led by the non-profit, Word is Bond, to reconnect with their ancestral roots for the very first time.

From director Twixx Williams, executive producer Lakayana Yotoma Drury, and staring the community ambassadors of Word is Bond.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this film and our future leadership expeditions to Ghana. Donations can be made here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/word-is-bond/black-star-homecoming-expedition-2024-fundraising-campaign

The Black Stars will be in select theatres beginning in February 2024 and will be available to the public in the summer of 2024. Learn more at mywordisbond.org/blackstars

UW Stout Spring 2023 Gradation Commencement Address

May 13, 2023

Delivering the Spring 2023 Graduation Commencement Address for the University of Wisconsin Stout was a full-circle moment for me. I got to address my alma matter and share my journey from graduating high school with a 2.3 GPA and a learning disability diagnosis to achieving a 4.0 GPA and graduating with honors. “From Fear to Freedom" is about never giving up on yourself, overcoming obstacles, and being your authentic self.

"Unpack the fear from your heart and write your story from the inkwell of possibility."

University of Wisconsin Stout: https://www.uwstout.edu/

Celebrating MLK Day - KBOO interviews Awardee Lakayana Drury from "Word Is Bond"

January 12, 2023

KBOO Radio Personalities

Reggae Bob & Lesley McLam Interview Awardee

Lakayana Drury with "Word Is Bond"

During the Martin Luther King Day Celebration at

Highland Christian Center

January 12, 2023

To be a Muslim Woman: My interview with Nurhan Waleed in Cairo, Egypt.

September, 2023

In September of 2023, I toured the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Al Manial Palace) in Cairo, Egypt. Nurhaan Waleed and her classmates were giving tours of the Palace as their final requirement for their tourism degree.

After a fantastic tour, I asked Nurhaan to sit down with me for an interview and share her perspective as a Muslim woman growing up in Cairo. She shared her story, her hopes, and her dreams. Thank you Nurhaan for the interview, you give me great hope for our future and the generation of leaders who are paving the way.

Lakayana Drury (Extended Interview) | The Bruce Poinsette Show

More on Word is Bond PDX: https://www.mywordisbond.org/

You can catch The Bruce Poinsette Show every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PST on https://www.thenumberz.fm/.

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NAACP Corvallis/Albany Juneteenth Celebration 2021. Keynote Speech

June 4, 2021

Lakayana Drury gives the Keynote address of the NAACP Corvallis/Albany 2021 Celebration. The speech discusses performative allyship and investment in the Black community. The speech includes quotes from President Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, and Nas.

March Against Murder Speech

May 22, 2021

My full speech at the March Against Murder rally this past Saturday, May 22. Portland Black communities have been historically under-invested and if you want to reduce violence you have to invest in said communities with jobs, education, and technology. Shoutout again to Royal Harris for organizing this event

Roosevelt High School Hoodies Up 2021 | Five Tips for Black Excellence + Poetry

February 1, 2021

He is one of the speakers for Roosevelt High School's annual Hoodies Up event in Portland Oregon. Hoodies Up is an event organized by students to seek solidarity in their stand to end systemic racism and racial profiling. In his talk, Lakayana shares poetry from his upcoming poetry book, Chasing Blackness, and gives his five tips for Black excellence for Black students and 3 tips for white students to be allies.

Juneteenth: The Context of Freedom

June 19, 2020

Lakayana Drury shares his thoughts on the celebration of Juneteenth including themes of freedom, liberation, and morality of white power.

Vanport Mosaic Festival: A Rose and Grief. Poetry Reading.

May 9, 2020

My poetry reading for The virtual Vanport Mosaic Festival 2020 May 8- 30. Shoutout to co-founder and story midwife Laura Lo Forti for the opportunity.

Vanport Mosaic presents: A ROSE AND GRIEF Poetry reading by Lakayana Drury Dedicated to #ahmaudarbery​ Saturday, May 9th, 5:30 pm.

Streaming on Vanport Mosaic Facebook page and at www.vanportmosaic.org

A Rose and Grief Poetry Chapbook Trailer.

January 10, 2020

The trailer for A Rose and Grief, a poetry chapbook self-published by Lakayana Drury on January 10, 2020.

Salute to Greatness Keynote.

January 19, 2019

delivers the keynote address for the annual MLK Salute to Greatness event hosted by Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. The Salute to Greatness event was held at New Song Community Church on Saturday, January 19, 2019.