AUTHOR, INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
See a 6’2”, 200lb Black man running down Vernon Street in Harrisburg’s South Allison Hill, overlooking the Pennsylvania State Capitol? That’s where my story began. It’s where I wrote In My Eyes, the book that transformed my life.
My name is Julian Davenport—good friends call me “Juelz.” My journey wasn’t paved with privilege or prestige. Raised by a single mother, with a father often absent behind bars, I was labeled “at-risk” before I even knew what that meant. The streets became my education, and like many before me, I made choices that led to free room and board in a place no one aspires to be—prison. But that wasn’t my ending.
In a world that wrote my story for me, I took the pen back. Writing became my way out. Poetry gave me a voice. And now, I use it to inspire students to find theirs.
Through my Words Have Power presentation, I bring raw, real, and relatable storytelling to schools. I connect with students—especially those who feel unseen—showing them that their words can be their weapon, their shield, and their salvation. I turn life lessons into teachable moments, using poetry, performance, and personal truth to empower young voices.
I don’t just speak to students—I speak for them, because I was them. Let’s show them the power of their words together.
#WordsHavePower #FindYourVoice #PoetryInEducation #FromTheStreetsToTheStage #InspiringYoungMinds
