St. Francis College graduate student Donevor Eric Appleton, better known as Cito Blanko, is a writer, poet and educator from the Bronx. In 2019, he published 98 Sense, his debut collection of poetry. More recently, he released Exp Dates, which was selected for Grammy Award consideration this year in the Best Spoken-Word Poetry Album category. At P.S. 158 in New York City, Blanko launched a poetry program for sixth- and seventh-graders that came to be known as Words That Write You, which he still helms.

Tell us a bit more about your debut poetry collection. What is the inspiration behind its title, 98 Sense?
I used to listen to everybody’s two cents about what they thought my life should look like. In some ways, it’s easier to listen to other people’s points of view than to forge your own path. But even after you’ve listened to everyone's two cents, you’re left with 98 cents that belong to you. The question is, which make more sense — yours or theirs?

Why did you choose to enroll at St. Francis College?
I had my share in college of what I call “school hurt” — trouble finishing up my studies, paying off loans, etc. In my mind, I was done with school and not necessarily interested in pursuing a master’s degree, but from the moment I stepped foot on the SFC campus, I found it to be a great environment. I am glad I ended up doing my M.F.A. here and have gotten 10-fold out of what I have put into my studies.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in at SFC?
As a graduate student in a low-residency program, I am not on campus often, but I have attended a few meetings and events sponsored by the Black Student Union. Additionally, I have served as a teaching assistant in the M.F.A. program.

Is there a professor or person at SFC who has impacted you in a meaningful way — whether academically or on a personal level?
It all started with Jive Poetic, who has been my mentor for years and helped me get 98 Sense off the ground. I also would like to give a shout-out to Theo Gangi and Athena Devlin. The level of care and attention I’ve received from all three of them has been amazing. They’ve encouraged me to shine my light, and my voice has never once been silenced.

What’s next for you?
I would like to teach and am currently exploring adjunct professor opportunities at various colleges. I not only enjoy sharing knowledge with others but also learning from them. A teacher always learns from his students; life is about reciprocity. I also want to keep building and expanding my poetry and writing program, Words That Write You. Kids connect with me, and I love mentoring them. Whatever I end up doing, I want to impart to others the value of poetry and writing. Words can get you far.