When he was 10, Benjamin won second place and $100 in a poetry writing contest. After receiving such a prestigious award, he immediately retired from poetry and decided to pursue other forms of writing instead.

He currently works as the Technology and Communications Manager for Street Law, Inc., helping advance civic and law-related education to empower people to transform their world and community.

Community is vital for Benjamin. He believes all change, no matter how big, starts at the local level when a single person decides to take action. In 2016, Benjamin, determined to be that person, co-founded the University of Iowa’s first on-campus food pantry.

In his free time, Benjamin is what some might call, a nerd. He enjoys reading the Washington Post, writing, video gaming, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and not writing poetry.