Reginald Simon Dumas (BEAN)

Just a run-of-the-mill collegiate athlete turned college dropout, trying to pursue his dreams or said nightmares. I found myself through creative outlets and believe others can as well. I only recently started my endeavors of painting and poetry however, it will be a path I walk for a lifetime. Truly the creative outlets and expression means it allows, hold such a positive impact on mental health. I hope not to only tackle socioeconomic issues through creativity but shed light on it’s on how the arts can affect society.

Born in 2000 in Miami and raised in the vibrant pulse of New York City, I’ve spent the past two decades soaking in the rhythm, chaos, and color of the city that shaped me. I’m the proud child of two Trinidadian immigrants whose strength and stories live in the backbone of everything I create.

I was originally recruited to college to play lacrosse—a path that made sense until it didn’t. Somewhere between practice and the pressure of everyday life, I stumbled into the world of creative arts and found something that felt more like home. At my first undergrad, a poem and painting of mine were published in the student-run literary magazine, a moment that quietly lit the fuse. That spark eventually led to my most recent project: a self-published collection of poetry born from reflection, healing, and an honest need to be heard