Impacting through Art: Trinity Woodard

For Westsider Trinity Woodard, art is a form of healing. 

As a dancer, poet, spoken word artist, author and performer, Trinity has leaned into the art world from a young age – and brought Chicagoans closer to these forms of expression. 

Born and raised in Austin, and now a Humboldt Park neighbor, Trinity grew up around art through her family and her community. Several family members work in the entertainment industry and she started performing from a young age. 

“It runs in my blood,” she said. 

Her performing arts career began in her local church. Later, she joined dance and acting programs through After School Matters with Move Me Soul Contemporary Dance Company and La’Follette Park. 

Growing up on the Westside, Trinity is no stranger to the challenges many other people in her community face. She has also seen how neighbors can look after one another, caring for each other. 

“Dance helped me express the hard things that I couldn’t write down or couldn’t put into words,” she said. 

She has also been a part of Shy Town Sugar Filmz, ThumbPrint Studios, Guild Literary Complex, Forge-Forward and Life Is Work.

As a spoken word artist, Trinity performs around the city, lifting her voice, sharing her perspective and advocating for important causes. She also shares her work online, on social media platforms under the name Trinity Sapphire. 

“Writing helped me build confidence and self-esteem,” she said. “With a pen and paper, you can be anybody.” 

Trinity addresses essential — and sometimes heavy — topics through spoken word. She talks about politics, family and gender, among other important contemporary issues. 

More than a tool for self-expression, her art invites reflection and action. Art is also a tool for preventing violence and advocating for healing, she said. 

She is one of the founders of Poet's Perspective Network, a group that organizes poetry events where local artists perform at Promontory Point. 

As an advocate for police reform, Trinity became involved with the 411 Movement for Pierre Loury. In 2016, 16-year-old Pierre Loury, was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer in North Lawndale, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Pierre’s aunt Arewa Winters, a 15th police district councilor, advocate and CLF alum, started the 411 Movement to organize neighbors and fight for justice and police reform. 

Trinity started as an intern for the 411 Movement for Pierre Loury and grew to become an administrator, responsible for event planning, budget management, social media management and community outreach. 

As part of this work, the group hosts pop-up events throughout the city, mainly on the Westside, where she has an opportunity to connect with young people and neighbors, she said. In the past, the group has held spoken word battles and other events that serve as a tool for young people to express themselves and prevent violence. 

Trinity’s own experience, troubles and challenges help her relate to young people and connect on a deeper level, she said. 

“We need more mentors and role models in our community who are relatable,” she said. 

She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications at National Louis University and expects to graduate in 2026. 

As she looks to the future, she wants to continue to use artistic expression as a way to improve community relations and prevent violence, she said. 

As an entrepreneur, she also wants to reach more people, take on bigger stages and combine her poetry skills to motivate others, she said.

When she thinks of herself as a community leader and her work, Trinity doesn’t come in with the intention to change her community, but instead she sees an opportunity for healing. 

“I come in with the intention to expand perspectives and access healing,” she said.