Meet Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas | Poet, Author and Safe Space Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dinahsta “Miss Kiane”, why did you pursue a creative career?
Not to sound super cheesy but a “creative career” probably chose me. Like many kids, I wanted to be a STAR and dreamed of being friends with my favorite performer, Diana Ross (I’m aging myself a bit aren’t I?). I danced and sang around with a towel on my head for the long hair effect, but I was more than just creative, I was imaginative too. EVERYTHING was a scene in a possible movie, the beginnings of a potential short story or a look that was going to stop them dead in there tracks. Although I was (and still can be) extremely shy, there was something about the arts that spoke to me in a way that was quite magnetic, exhilarating, and frightening at the same time – kind of like love…lol. After I realized that I may not become a celebrity, experienced tons of loss in my own childhood, and contended with mental health issues in my family, I decided that I wanted to “help the mentally challenged.” I went to school, earned degrees in Psychology and Social Work, and worked in the helping industry for years; but what I could never shake was my desire to create. This desire to create would lead my shy personality to stages to read my poetry. This desire to create would make me volunteer to design an office newsletter. Moreover, this desire to create pulled on me to help others heal, express their inner pain, find their voice and HEAL. The reason being is because that is what poetry, writing, and expressing did for me as a child. I would literally be a different person if it had not been for my journal pages. While for years I juggled what felt like parallel lines between my professional self and my creative self, I no longer had the grace to ignore the creative call. My profession and my passion had to become one in order for me to successfully “be”. I started a poetry business Kiane Ink Healing in the Pen, LLC as early as 1999 but later relaunched in 2013. Kiane Ink promotes hope, healing and social change through poetry in the forms of spoken word, merchandise and community events. In 2019, I started a non-profit called The InkWELL. The InkWELL was birthed out of Kiane Ink with the intention to facilitate hope (healing), awareness and self-love through creative and reflective writing programs. Both businesses continue to transform and become more fine tuned, but they are the direct result of my personal purpose working itself out in me…through me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what sets me apart from other poets is my desire for the poem to impact change in the hearer. See, poetry or creative writing was medicinal for me as a kid. I wrote to help me process the losses in my life. My brother was removed from my home at a young age, my father was not present in my life and my mother passed away before my 13th birthday. So writing became my therapist, my friend and my outlet. Ultimately, I wrote to heal. Originally; however, it was ONLY for me until at some point, I realized, it wasn’t just for me. Someone else NEEDS to know that they are not alone, that there is hope, that they too can make it through etc. As a creative, that’s how I feel about art – it has the power to heal, restore hope and evoke change. Art literally can be the thin line between life and death for someone.

I can be a bit of a perfectionist so identifying something I am most “proud of” sometimes stumps me. I have met plenty of challenges and disappointments, but I can honestly say, I am most proud of the fact that I have continued to pursue my dreams as a healing creative. Life throws curve balls, derails my motivation, even cripples my desire to create, but with each curve ball is a recovery and a resolve to keep going. My grandmother (my rock) passed away in 2013. That’s when I re-launched Kiane Ink and hosted our first community event -The Gathering: Open Mic with a Cause. My father passed in 2019, I started a non-profit. The pandemic hit in 2020, I performed and shared my work on virtual stages in the west coast, mid-west and internationally!

The resolve to be a “Professional” creative was not easy, but a few things I have learned is 1.) no matter what comes your way, always come back to your “why”. Why are you doing this? Why do believe you HAVE to do this? If your “why” is based on money only, you may not have the stamina to keep going. 2.) Obey the call. I said earlier that the life of an artist/creative chose me. There were plenty of times, I was like, “I’m done. I’m just going to be a 9-5’er and BE happy.” But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t just be a 9-5’er and be fulfilled. The call pulls you. So have faith and BE. 3) Lastly – surround yourself with others that have like minds. Folks with vision for their lives. Individuals that see you and who are not afraid to challenge you too. A plant can only grow as large as the pot she’s planted in. It’s important to put yourself in a position where you can grow.

Writing was my thing…something I hid in my journals…just for me. It was where I went to be free in a world where I felt so isolated and alone. Creative writing was like a gift to me from God, but anything that God gives us is NOT just for us. It’s meant to be shared and multiplied. Both Kiane Ink and The InkWELL operate from a belief that within each of us lies an innate ability to tap into self-healing and it’s called creativity. I see my poetry, my performances, my projects/programs as a guiding light, a conduit and a catalyst for healing and change.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them?
D.C. is such an interesting little big city…lol. On one hand it is trendy-chic, rich with millennial innovation and on the other hand, it’s filled with controversial history and angst. Depending what side of town you live on can determine which hand you are most familiar with, but the truth is both hands make DC a pretty cool spot to be! If I was in charge of a 7 day visit with my bestie, it may look a bit like this (not necessarily in this order but you get the idea):

DAY 1:
One of my personal favorite things about this city is that although it is a city…it is not without its share of green space. I would take my bestie to the Arboretum for a light hike, plush greenery, historical remains and an informal photoshoot of course! (Great place for pictures. You don’t even have to be a professional!)

After a nice hike through the grounds, we could grab a bite at NuVegan Cafe on Georgia Ave. In no way I am a vegan, but their collards, veggie lasagna and their fruit smoothies are really good! And if we are going to grub after a nice long hike, we should at least eat hardy without the guilt.

DAY 2:
What you may not know about DC is that it is divided into 4 quadrants and 8 wards. Each Quadrant has its overgeneralized reputation. Southeast has a reputation of being a rough side of town with higher crime and less community perks, but the truth of the matter, there is a rich history in Southeast DC that is often overlooked. For example, the Frederick Douglass sits on a hill in Southeast Washington DC overlooking the entire city. It has the views and location of the wealthy. A definite must to visit. This stop would be filled with history, education, perspective and reflection.

For the evening – Open Mic night at Busboys and Poets is a no brainer! From the inhouse bookstore filled with local and national authors to the local artwork that graffiti the walls, Busboys and Poets is a creative’s watering hole! The service can be slow but the food has never failed me. Personal recommendations include the catfish, collards and cornbread! (The alliteration alone…lol), fried shrimp balls and the Mojitos. Bon apetit!

DAY 3:
DC always have community events such as open markets where local farmers and entrepreneurs can sell their goods. It’s an opportunity to support the locals, hob nob and enjoy the outdoors. There may even be live entertainment!

Besties can’t get together and not shop so we would definitely continue the shopping spirit at the Tanger Outlets. Followed by a late lunch/early dinner at the National Harbor. The eating options are copious but a few of my go-to’s would be Cadillac Ranch and Grace’s Mandarin.

DAY 4:
Tourist Day – We would go the National Mall and site see. There is the Pencil, the Capital, the Lincoln Monument, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Many people take their time and walk all day, but knowing us, we’d use the Circulator Bus…lol. However, to make things more fun, we would use the scooter or bike share! (My bestie may opp for an uber…lol).

Southern Pride is a soul food cafe that sells lemon-pepper porkchops, BBQ chicken quarters, mac and cheese, scallop potatoes….and the list goes on! Plus their portions are HUGE! We’d get a plate to go and debrief the day at home. (followed by a deep sleep…lol)

DAY 5
People travel from all over the world to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and one visit is not even close to being “all you need”, but it is a must visit at least once.

DAY 6:
Breakfast/Brunch at Ted’s Bulletin. I went here a few weeks ago with someone who had never been. They asked the waiter, what’s good here. He answered, EVERYTHING. A bit overzealous, right? But literally all of their food gets high reviews. After brunch, we would be off to the Merriweather in Columbia, MD. Depending on the time of year, we could go ice skating, attend a jazz festival, partake of gourmet ice cream at The Charmery. Then there’s a place called The Main Event where we could go bowling, laser tag and video games (yeah I am a big kid).

Dinner conveniently, is right next door- Maggianos Italian Restaurant. Their food is absolutely delish!

DAY 7:
Since the pandemic -going to the movies has been a “no” for me but when I do go, I like to splurge a bit. It’s the experience! I would love to take my bestie to the IPIC theater where the red leather recliner chairs are by reservation only and come with a pillow, blanket and personal server. The IPIC menu is complete with a restaurant level array of options that can be served to you while you recline in the theater. The intimate space gives you the feel of home with a touch of pampering. A nice relaxing way to end a very busy week!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My late mother, Diane Thomas, introduced me to words. She had a peculiar vocabulary! She’d use the $100 words – you know the kind of words you only bought out on a very special occasion, like the good plates? She’d use those words in her everyday conversations. As a creative writer, my mother was influenced by writers such as Khalil Gibran and Langston Hughes. Therefore, her letters, poems or even the notes on the refrigerator were never without poetic depth. It was because of her, I began creating vocabulary lists just for fun. It was because of her, I learned to intentionally find an extraordinary way to express the mundane. She taught me the power and beauty of words, and I have been writing ever since.

Every time I stand to do a poem or host a show, I introduce my self as My name is Miss Kiane. I’m a poet and I know it. This is a simple phrase that usually garners a chuckle or two, but what most don’t know is the journey of my knowing. That journey all began with my Mommy….thanks Mom.

Website: www.kianeink.com

Instagram: kianeink

Linkedin: Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas

Twitter: Kiane Ink

Facebook: Dinahsta Kiane

Youtube: MissKiane

Other: FB: Miss Kiane, Kiane Ink Healing in the Pen, The InkWELL project TikTok: MissKianePoetry

Image Credits
Grumpy Panda Photography Brian Tru Joseph Anderson Darryl Harris