24 Years of Poetry
At just 25, recent college graduate Muhibb Dyer was immersed in Milwaukee’s growing spoken word scene. While many poets were creating CDs to promote their work, Dyer took a different route. At a time when print calendars were in high demand, he launched the Children Are Crying calendar, blending poetry and purpose.
The Children Are Crying calendar has been around for 24 years and sells out each year. It wasn’t just about getting his poetry out there, but more about pushing a bigger message that the children of Milwaukee were suffering. He used the written word to tell the stories of Milwaukee youth, accompanied by visuals to further illustrate the ills going on in the city. One calendar depicted a young man reaching for a casket as his mother reached for him from behind.
As the years went on, Dyer wanted to switch up the messaging to a more uplifting one to give people hope. Currently, the Children Are Crying calendars focus on positivity and feature visuals of successful people and positive poems.
The yearly Children Are Crying calendars are based on themes. The 2026 theme is “Made in Milwaukee” to highlight the good going on in Milwaukee.
“We need to start taking pride in who we are,” said Dyer. “We have to begin highlighting the positive things in the city.”
Passing the Torch
Dyer is a Milwaukee native who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Policies and Community Studies. He stated that many of his childhood peers were either killed or incarcerated, and he refused to go down the same path.
“Life ain’t no video game. You get one shot, one chance, one opportunity to do all that you can,” said Dyer.
While still in college, Dyer discovered his passion for public speaking and empowering the youth through his words. According to his website, he has reached a quarter of a million youth in more than 25 states through keynote addresses, workshops, and theatrical presentations.
“I think it’s just really about understanding that you have a duty to give back,” he said.
Dyer is in his 50s, and as he looks back on his impact, he said it’s now time to prepare to make room for the next generation. He hopes to see the younger generation pushing for more positivity, community impact, and being positive role models.
“Somebody has to take up the mantle…of bringing life and light into the city,” said Dyer. “If anybody wants to help me, then they need to help others.”
The Children Are Crying calendars will continue to be sold yearly.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
