Meet Yolanda "Poetic Flow" Jackson: Poet, Photographer, Producer, Sr. Paralegal, Business Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yolanda “Poetic Flow” Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yolanda “Poetic Flow”, what’s your definition for success?
I define success by the positive & life-long impact you have on people. Having money definitely is a plus because it allows you to be able to help others in huge ways. Success is about your legacy & trademark on life. When you walk away from someone, you want them to forever remember you in the most powerful & positive way. Success is running into someone you impacted 5-10 years later and they tell you that because of what you said or did helped to shape & guide them to become the successful person they are. In simple terms, success is the impact you have on others to become amazing individuals.

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.
As previously stated, my late grandmother noticed and drew out the poet in me at a very young age. She saw in me what I didn’t even know and that is my gift of poetry. Because of her, the world now knows POETIC FLOW. I write based upon feelings, thoughts, a word I may hear, etc. I am most proud of being a 3x published author and taking my experience and sharing it with other authors, poets, writers in an effort to help them do the same. I’m also a photographer (Poetic Flow Photography) and have a production company (Poetic Flow Productions). I’ve always loved taking pictures, but got more involved in professional photography and production after having been co-owner of a Television/Film Production Studio in Kansas (No Budget Studio). Ursula Joyner was the owner and I was co-owner. Once the business dissolved, I established my production company and photography business. I credit Ursula for this, because being co-owner of NBS, I learned so much and it ignited me to create my own business. The lessons I’ve learned along the way are thankfully lessons I already knew. Due to my legal background of over 20 yrs as a Sr. Paralegal, I was well versed in business incorporation, contracts, legal research, etc. This helped in making sure things were always done legally & properly with paperwork. I want the world to know that POETIC FLOW is a positive experience, whether it is via my poetry, positive vibes, photography or production.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I am from Chicago, now living in Atlanta. So if I were in Chicago, I’d take my best friend to the museums, downtown and up north. We’d eat deep dish pizza at Giordano’s, the best cheesy pizza at Italian Fiesta, Harold’s Chicken, and some great rib spots. If in Atlanta, I’d take my best friend to the aquarium, the King museum & do the tour, we’d pop in to Magic City (they have some bomb wings!), Dugans on Ponce for food & drinks, we’d go to Varsity, Lenox Mall & Phipps Plaza. I’m sure we’d hit up more places in both cities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I give a shoutout to my late grandmother who is the inspiration behind me being a poet. She saw in me what I didn’t even notice & that was the gift of poetry. She instilled so much wisdom in me and I’m forever grateful that I was blessed to have her as my grandmother. I also give a shoutout to my late mother, who recently passed away, February 2020. My mom was my lifeline, my heartbeat, my everything. My life has forever changed and I’m trying to adjust to this “new normal.” My mom taught me about responsibility, independence, loving myself, finances, respect & so much more. She was my “go to” person to tell about my day, things happening in my life and she was my laugh buddy. These 2 women raised and molded me into the woman I am and I’ll forever shout them out.