Just. C.O.S.

Calil “JUST C.O.S.” Cage is a poet, key-note speaker, educator, and two-time author. He holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University. He has written poetry for over ten years and has performed spoken word for the last six. Born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Columbus, OH, he currently resides in Cleveland, OH. At the start of 2023, Calil became a Room in the House Fellow of Karamu House, the oldest African-American Theater in the United States. Later in 2023, Calil Cage and Morgan Paige released their live-studio album and book, “BARE: In the Flesh”. In January of 2022, Calil founded The Sparrow's Fortune (TSF), an organization whose mission is to inspire, encourage, and educate community through arts, entertainment, and creative writing workshops. Through TSF, the team further launched their Project R.O.O.T (Realizing Our Own Talents) initiative, where they host writing workshops for students and adults focused on developing emotional intelligence and mental well-being. In June of 2022, he released his debut poetry book, Evolving When Love Has No Reality He currently serves as the Executive Director of The Sparrow’s Fortune, and the Chief Operating Officer of Poetry Unplugged, an open-mic experience that allows artists to be limitless in their expression. Recently, he was awarded the Helping Hands Award by the Cuyahoga County ADAMHS Board, because of the communal nature of his work in the poetry world. His poetry and spoken word most often highlight the Black community, trauma resilience, hope, healing, spiritual principles, and more. “C.O.S.”, pronounced “cause”, stands for Collection of Seeds. He sees his words as “just a collection of seeds” planted into the hearts of those who listen. He hopes to continue honoring this moniker and planting seeds of impact in every community he visits.