Cleo Wade

Cleo Wade is an American artist, poet, activist, and author who uses her platform to share messages of hope, resilience, and advocacy. After her career as a public figure began to gain traction in the mid-2010s, Cleo Wade went on to utilize her poetry and activism to address pressing social issues, including criminal justice reform and gender and racial equality. Her work, which often centers on themes of inspiration, affirmations, and female empowerment, gained significant visibility through features in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, People magazine, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Vogue. In 2017, Wade delivered her acclaimed TED Talk, ‘Want to change the world?

Start by being brave enough to care,’ which has since accumulated over 1.5 million views. Her prominent use of Instagram further amplified her reach, attracting over 782,000 followers by 2022, and she was honored on Fast Company’s 2017 list of Most Creative People in Business, in addition to being a Finalist in Literature at the 10th annual Shorty Awards. Wade has authored multiple impactful books, commencing with ‘Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life’ in 2018. This was followed by ‘Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World’ in 2019.

Demonstrating a deep commitment to social impact, Wade is actively involved in non-profit work, serving on the boards of the Women’s Prison Association, the Lower East Side Girls Club, and the National Black Theatre in Harlem. She also contributes to the creative council for EMILY’s List and the advisory board of Gucci’s Chime for Change, consistently utilizing her platform to advocate for hope, resilience, and equality.