Nicole Doyley

Nicole Doyley

Nicole Doyle Author, Podcast Host Nicole Doyley grew up in Brooklyn, New York, attended Dartmouth College, and worked in church ministry for almost 25 years. She has authored four books and published articles in numerous periodicals. Nicole hosts her own podcast...
Orlando Watson

Orlando Watson

Orlando Watson Poet, Festival Director    Orlando Watson is an acclaimed artist, entertainment executive, and curatororiginally from Cleveland, Ohio. As the founder of Prose & Concepts LLC,Watson has built a reputation for merging artistry, strategic...
Kevin Powell

Kevin Powell

Kevin Powell Writer, Activist  Kevin Powell is one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America. He is a prolific writer and a GRAMMY-nominated poet; Kevin is a heavily sought-after public speaker who has lectured in all 50...
Damon Young

Damon Young

Damon Young Author Pittsburgh writer Damon Young’s debut memoir, What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir In Essays (Ecco/HarperCollins), won the Thurber Prize for American Humor and Barnes & Noble’s Discover Award. Damon is also a founder of...
Vanessa K. Valdés

Vanessa K. Valdés

Vanessa K. Valdés Author, Historian  Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés is a cultural critic and historian whose work focuses on the literatures, visual arts, performances, and histories of Black peoples throughout the Western hemisphere. An engaging speaker, she served as a...