Collaborators

We are proud to work alongside the wider Action Education whanau, which includes poets, youth workers, teachers, musicians, actors, mentors, friends, community organisations and these awesome people...

Marina Alefosio: Spoken Word Poet / Facilitator

Marina Alefosio is a Spoken Word Artist and mother who provides poetry and
performance workshops for people of all ages. She studied Creative Writing
at the Manukau Institute of Technology and was a member of the South
Auckland Poets Collective.

Onehou Strickland: Spoken Word Poet / Facilitator

Onehou is a Cook Island/Maori and proud resident of South Auckland with a passion for story telling both visually and lyrically. She has been a member of the South Auckland Poets Collective since 2012 which has seen her travel the country performing and running workshops in Spoken word. She has also been a mentor for Word - The Front Line since its beginnings. In 2015, Onehou wrote and directed the short film 'Two Steps Behind' as her graduate project at Auckland University of Technology which has since featured in the Pollywood14 film festival, Pasifika Film Festival and Maoriland Festival. Onehou has a strong love for the arts and how it’s simple nature can reach and break through even the hardest of shells. It is something she has seen happen many times at workshops and events.

Lastman So'oula: Spoken Word Poet / Facilitator

Lastman has been member of the South Auckland Poets Collective for almost
a year now. Poetry has given him the opportunity to share his story with not
only his community but also other educators, and especially young people.
Spoken word poetry has also expanded Lastman’s expression as an artist,
creating connections and making new journeys. Part of the journey is to finish
his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in hopes he can use his knowledge and
experience to better not only his own future, but also the future of his family
and community, whether that means using a paintbrush or words.

Sheldon Rua: Spoken Word Poet / Facilitator

Born and raised in the heart of South Auckland, Sheldon Rua of Tainui/Waikato descent, aspires to inspire, encourage and to motivate. He just completed year 13 at Alfriston College as the 2016 School Dux.
Sheldon has crafted a flare for the arts. From playing music in local and national bars and competitions, to Hip Hop dancing on regional, national and internationally renowned platforms, to sharing his passion for spoken word poetry. Sheldon believes that to fully accept and understand a person, assumptions can never be made, but rather an open heart and the willingness to engage with people.

Laurent Dunningham: Spoken Word Poet / Facilitator

Laurent is a passionate spoken word artist, professional Hip Hop dancer, Choreographer and singer. She started writing at a young age and in 2010 she moved to Melbourne where competed in the Victorian State slam finals, and soon after became a member and facilitator for The Centre for Poetics and Justice.

She has traveled to NYC where she taught spoken word poetry at Camp Amerikids in 2011/12 and did her first poetry tour around NZ with Luka Lesson in 2012. She has also been a member of The South Auckland Collective Poets since 2015.

Andrew Cook AKA DJ Exile: Breakdown DJ Tutor
DJ Exile has sixteen years of DJ’ing and Radio Broadcasting experience with 95bFM, 106.9KFM and BASEFM. He has DJ’d most of New Zealand’s premium festivals including Rhythm & Vines for the past six years. He holds a number of club residencies and operates as a professional DJ on the Auckland club circuit.

Youth work is a passion that began for Exile when he was a DJ tutor volunteering his time. This shifted into a full time position as a Youth Transition Worker for two years, before he stopped to focus on his music career. Exile is a certified Audio Engineer having completed a Diploma in Audio Engineering. His expertise lies in his ability to fuse both his passions through utilizing music and technology, and he uses that as a foundation for his approach to youth development.