Ryan J. Matthews-Robinson 🇯🇲🇮🇪

What started as a fitness journey in 2020 turned into a mindset shift that changed every part of my life ✨ At the beginning, I was focused on the destination. I thought fulfilment would come once I looked a certain way or hit a certain weight but somewhere along the process, I realised the physical transformation wasn’t the most important part. The most valuable thing I gained was a devotion to be the best version of me. Learning how to keep promises to myself. Learning that progress isn’t built in one moment, it’s built in the small choices nobody sees. Early mornings. Intense workouts. Changing food habits. Continuing even when results weren’t immediate. Honestly, building this mentality was harder than losing the weight ever was. For me this was never about a temporary “before and after pic.”
 It’s always been about becoming someone who can sustain these habits, this mindset and this standard for life. 5 years on Im still here super proud of the physical progress, of course but I’m even more proud of the person I had to become to get here 🖤 Big up everyone on their own journey, keep going! Your future self will thank you #MindsetIsEverything

Yesterday I performed spoken word to thousands of people at Trafalgar Square for the St Patricks Day Festival ☘️ This is the second time I have performed on this stage which is a celebration of artists from Irish descent 🇮🇪 I wrote a new poem dedicated to the connection between Jamaican and Irish people from the similarities in language, the love for Guinness, big families and to celebrate my Irish and Jamaican grandparents 🤝 Something that definitely brought Irish and Jamaican people together in the past was a shared oppression they went through when they first arrived in England so it felt real powerful to be on that stage yesterday wearing MORE Blacks, MORE Irish, MORE Dogs inna this Babylon ✊ Proud to continue to take spoken word to bigger stages and to be Irish! Happy St Patricks Day 🍺🍾 #StPatricksDayFestival

We’ve made a new signing to the Poetic Unity team✍️🏆 Most of you have seen the news by now but if you haven’t already please welcome George The Poet to the Poetic Unity family 👏 He will be involved in helping us take our work to the next level from Brixton to the world 🌎 It’s crazy that 12 years ago I first saw George on Link Up TV performing spoken word which is a big reason why I got into poetry and then a couple years later the first video we ever did at Poetic Unity was on Link Up TV 🎥 Theres so much reflection Im doing at the moment with Poetic Unity reaching the 10 year landmark. Over the years almost everyday people ask me how did you start it? How have you got this far? How do you run a charity? For the first time in 10 years I will be answering all of these questions and more at one event this Tuesday 18th February @ Brixton House from 6.30pm where I will deep dive into my journey alongside my bro @yomi_sode I promise you there will be a lot of gems 💎 Limited tickets via link in my bio! See you there ✨ #10YearsOfPoeticUnity

3 weeks to go till our anniversary screening 🎥✨ Join us as we celebrate our anniversary at the iconic Ritzy Cinema. This unique screening event brings together a curated selection of Coldharbour Films journey so far showcasing some of our early productions and premiering exclusive new films 🎉 Come and experience a body of work that has already earned recognition for telling community stories authentically with a 2025 Third Sector award for best charity film 🏆 This night will also feature live performances from some of the best talent in London and a panel. Details: Date: Thursday 4th June 2026 Location: Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm Tickets: Limited early bird tickets via link in bio One of the films we will be screening from our current catalog is ‘PLEASE’ which has only been screened once. PLEASE is an emotive spoken word short film exploring the hidden realities of abuse, grooming, and the cycles that put young people at risk. Starring: @esthermstephen @yourstruly_reverend @sharonekallinga @jordancecilwallace Directed by @ragzcv @laurynxnadine Cinematography by @willihadley We hope to see you there to celebrate this important milestone with us! #AnniversaryScreening

Coldharbour Films - Casting call Project outline: A spoken word short film on Afrofuturism exploring Black resistance, joy and innovation. The film is a celebration of migration, travel and cultural exchange. Characters: Male - Black or Black mixed heritage aged 18-40 years old Female - Black or Black mixed heritage aged 13-16 years old (or someone older that can play this age) Female - Black or Black mixed heritage aged 60-85 years old Male - Black or Black mixed heritage aged 18-30 years old Male - Black or Black mixed heritage aged 18-30 years old Details: Expenses covered. Location London. Must have some previous acting experience and be available for shoot day on 15th May. If interested email headshot and showreel to [email protected] by 11th May. #CastingCall

Announcement 🎬🎥 Coldharbour Films is turning one years old ✨ Join us as we celebrate our anniversary at the iconic Ritzy Cinema. This unique screening event brings together a curated selection of Coldharbour Films journey so far showcasing some of our early productions and premiering exclusive new films 🎉 Come and experience a body of work that has already earned recognition for telling community stories authentically with a 2025 Third Sector award for best charity film 🏆 This night will also feature live performances from some of the best talent in London and a panel. Details: Date: Thursday 4th June 2026 Location: Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm Tickets: Limited early bird tickets via link in bio New films to be screened on the night: ‘Lambeth Made Safer’ ft @bybintayade ‘Air of Injustice’ ft @thomaskenechii ‘The Future is Diaspora’ ft @pabitez Directed by @ragzcv Cinematography by @willihadley We hope to see you there to celebrate this important milestone with us! #AnniversaryScreening

Meet Ryan; the founder & CEO of Poetic Unity, a Black-led charity transforming lives since 2015 through poetry, purpose, and powerful pathways into education, employment, social justice, and mental health support. Impacting thousands of young people across the UK and beyond. It Takes A Village is an intergenerational experience designed to connect young Black men with mentors across social justice, law, finance, and advocacy; creating access, honesty, and real brotherhood where it matters most. 📍 Barclays Moorgate 📅 14 May ⏰ 4pm – 7pm 🎟 Free entry (donations encouraged) ➡️click link in bio Come build community, connection, and legacy. #ItTakesAVillage #BlackExcellence #IntergenerationalLeadership #CommunityPower

🫆 "The pain of being stopped and searched, of seeing the mandem get popped and merked" - Headliner Ragz-CV (@ragzcv ) 🎟️ Next show Wednesday 13th May at The Blues Kitchen, Manchester - tickets from £9.95 via youngidentity.org/one-mic-stand You can watch the full performance on our YouTube channel - link in bio⁠ 🎥: Sagitta Media⁠

Announcement 🎬🎥 new Coldharbour Films documentary ‘Air of Injustice’ will be exclusively screened next week at the Cultivating Activism event 🌍 This film follows Thomas Kenechii an 18 year old from North London on a journey to learn about air pollution and how it disproportionately affects marginalised communities Details for the screening below: Date: Thursday 2nd April 2026 Location: Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Time: 6.30pm-9pm Tickets: Free tickets linked in bio (very limited tickets available) Credits: Directed by @ragzcv Cinematography by @willihadley Featuring @thomaskenechii #AirOfInjustice

Poetic Unity @ University of Cambridge 🗣️🖤 Our founder @ragzcv was invited back to the University of Cambridge last week to speak on a panel about our Protest Poetry programme and how it has mobilised young people to fight for racial justice through spoken word! The event also included a film screening and open mic where @pabitez shared her powerful experience of working with Poetic Unity to raise awareness about Sickle Cell ✨ Thank you to @crasshlive for having us! We look forward to returning to University of Cambridge in the near future, where we will deepen our work! #ProtestPoetry

Poetic Unity in New Orleans 🖤🎯 The most spiritual and inspiring city I’ve been to yet! From the people, to the culture, to the history, to the vibes NOLA is special ✨ On the plane home I wrote 27 pages and 8 chapters about my experience so you know I can’t limit what I share from this trip to an instagram post! I’ve created a substack series where I will share a lot of my learnings and insights from NOLA, the first chapter is up now titled ‘Rooted in Tradition’ which you can read via BrixtonToTheWorld.Substack.com or click link in bio #NewOrleans #BrixtonToTheWorld

Poetic Unity are hosting a poetry night at the famous Ashe Cultural Arts Center tomorrow ✨ This will be the first ever event we have put on outside of the UK and to do it in New Orleans in celebration of our 11th birthday feels special 🎉 Massive thank you to the good people @ashe_cac for having us! If you’re a poet, rapper, singer or musician in New Orleans come down and jump on our open mic tomorrow, sign up from 9pm! Its gonna be a vibe ✨ #BrixtonToTheWorld