The Woman Behind the Words

Shelby “Mahogany” Wilson has lived in Alaska for more than 35 years and serves as the Vice President of Black Feather P.O.E.T.S., a nonprofit dedicated to uniting communities through the arts. A published poet, she began her creative journey with the Alaska Poetry League and was the fourth runner‑up in the 2005 Alaska Poetry Slam. Since then, she has expanded her work to include performance poetry, workshop facilitation, writing, spiritual counseling, and motivational speaking. Her performances center on transforming lived experiences into emotionally resonant narratives that connect with audiences.

Shelby has volunteered extensively with organizations focused on the arts and community development. She has served on the boards of Identity Inc. and Radical Arts for Women (RAW), and she organized Anchorage Pride for more than seven years. For over two decades, she has facilitated poetry and women’s empowerment workshops for groups including the YWCA Leadership Conference, Hiland Correctional Center, Success Inside and Out, Northstar, and Black Feather P.O.E.T.S. Shelby has presented at events such as the Pink Ice Gala for Cancer, the Successful Recovery Giveback Program, Jazz and Poetry Gala, Take Back the Night, and Alaska Pride. She has also appeared on Poetic Soul and with the Alaska Teen Media Institute.

Her writing has appeared online in Daily Love, Vox Poetica, Fib Review, Eskimo Pie, Poetry from Wherever, Poetic Medicine, and Bent Alaska. Her print work is featured in several publications, including “In My Lifetime: Wonders” (2012), “Building Fires in the Snow: A Collection of Alaska LGBT Writers” (2016), Safire Magazine (2013), and Alaska Women Speak (2012). Shelby produced and appeared on the spoken‑word album “Lyrical Finesse,” and she has independently published several poetry collections, including “Serenity,” “Broken Wings, Mending Damaged Souls” (2009), “Verbal Stimulation: An Intimate Collection of Poetry” (2012), and “BeautiFly” (2016).

Committed to community uplift, Shelby uses her creative and spiritual work to inspire individuals to discover their authentic selves and realize their potential.

 Shelby has been an International Toastmaster member since 2009. During her time in Toastmasters, she has accomplished several milestones including being Club President, Vice President of Education Twice and mentoring a club back to Distinguished Toastmasters Status. Shelby has conducted a leadership training at the 2012 YACT Fall Conference and several Club Officer training's for new officers. Her skills as a speaker are inspirational and motivational. She captivates audiences with her poetic rhythm as well as her infectious personality. She knows each person has infinite potential. Given the opportunity and guidance they will soar.

She believes in giving back to the community by encouraging people to discover their authentic self. Shelby has facilitated poetry and created women empowerment workshops for over 5 years. She has conducted workshops for YWCA Leadership Conference, Hiland Correctional Center in Alaska, Northstar and woman empowerment seminars for Black Feather POETS. She believes her purpose is to co-inspire individuals to discover their greatness. 

Her work has appeared online in Daily Love, Vox Poetica, Fib Review, Eskimo Pie, Poetry from Wherever, Poetic Medicine and Bent Alaska. Her print work has appeared in “In My Life Time: Wonders” Anthology, “Building Fires in the Snow” Collection of Alaska LGBT Writers, Safire Magazine and Alaska Women Speak. Shelby produced and appeared on a spoken word CD entitled Lyrical Finesse, a Black Feather Production. She has self-published a Chapbook titled "Serenity", a Poetry Collection titled "Broken Wings, Mending Damaged Souls", “Verbal Stimulation, An Intimate Collection of Poetry”, BeautiFly, and Poetry and Affirmations. Her newest book of poems is "Progressive Lines Etched in Time's Brittle Glass".