Valerie Ayres Wallick

A Voice of Poetry, Art, and Community

📷 Photo of Valerie Ayres Wallick

Some journeys begin quietly. For Valerie Ayres Wallick, it started with a simple act of courage. As a young writer from Snow Hill, Maryland, she submitted an editorial to five local newspapers, including one in her hometown. That small step opened a door she could not yet see. The submission led to a weekly journalism column in Baltimore, and from there her voice continued to grow.

Wallick would go on to build a creative life rooted in poetry, storytelling, and artistic expression. Over the years her poetry has appeared in more than fifty publications, including newspapers, magazines, and books. She also edited the anthology What He Wore, and earlier in her career she self published a poetry collection that quickly sold out.

Her poetry was never meant to stay only on the page. Valerie Ayres Wallick became known as a powerful performing poet, sharing her work across five states on stages, college campuses, bookstores, cafés, schools, and national radio programs. Along the way she appeared alongside notable performers including Alfre Woodard, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Big Boy, and The Watts Prophets.

Yet among the many performances and accomplishments, the moments closest to her heart were often the most personal. One of her favorite memories was performing poetry with her daughter throughout Los Angeles when she was about seven years old. For Wallick, poetry was not only art. It was a way to pass creativity, confidence, and expression from one generation to the next.

📷 Photo of Valerie performing poetry

Her work and dedication to community did not go unnoticed. In 2012, she was honored as a National Women’s Month Honoree by the Southern California Chapter of the Ladies of Distinction, an organization recognizing women who have made meaningful contributions in family life, education, and community leadership. That same year she was also honored during Black History Month by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council.

Even with national recognition, Wallick remained deeply committed to using art to uplift young people. When she discovered that her daughter’s school did not offer a fine arts program, she decided to create one herself. She founded Artists Reaching Teaching our Students, known as the A.R.T.S. program, to introduce students to the enriching rewards of art.

Each year artists, dancers, poets, and actors volunteered their time to perform and teach students during Black History Month. The program encouraged creativity while strengthening motivation, confidence, teamwork, and focus in the classroom. Wallick believed that the arts could help young people discover their voices and build brighter futures.

Her commitment to community extended beyond the classroom. She also founded The Sunshine Club, a program encouraging young people to send greeting cards each month to seniors living in nursing homes who might otherwise be forgotten. Through simple acts of kindness, the program helped bridge generations.

Wallick has always found inspiration in the people and experiences around her. Among her personal passions are collecting autographs, a hobby that began nearly forty five years ago when she received an autograph and a kiss from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. She also enjoys collecting first edition books and original artwork.

Although her creative career has taken her across the country, Valerie Ayres Wallick has never forgotten where her story began. She also helped organize an annual HillTop Festival in her hometown of Snow Hill, bringing families together in celebration of community.

From a young writer submitting an editorial to local newspapers to a celebrated poet and mentor, Valerie Ayres Wallick reminds us that creativity has the power to travel far while still carrying the roots of home.

“2012 National Women’s Month Honoree: Valerie A. Ayres.” Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley Announcement, 2012.

Photo Credit

Photo courtesy of Valerie Ayres Wallick.