• Read more about Saima Sitwat

Saima Adil Sitwat is a writer and educator based in Baltimore City. Her work entails facilitating conversations on race, religion and identity politics.  Saima is the author of her memoir American Muslim: An Immigrant's Journey. 

• Read more about Bomani Armah

Bomani Armah is a Hip Hop artist, writer, educator, and family man. Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland, Bomani's goal is to "Honor the Ancestors, Prepare the Descendants and Love Right Now." Bomani has released four Hip Hop albums, including "Bomani Armah is the Watermelon Man." He is best known for his 2007 viral crunk hit "Read a Book," which aired on BET's 106th & Park.

• Read more about Kim Poole Music

Ms. Kim Poole is a Soul-Fusion Performing Artivist and Founding Fellow of the Teaching Artist Institute, providing an opportunity for artists to learn techniques for social transformation while fostering outlets for socially engaged art.  Operating in the USA, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and The Gambia through TAI Kim Poole and an international team of Teaching Artists are originating the Art for Social Transformation: Teaching Artistry in Action curriculum & workbook for change agents and universities interested in exploring the “Art of Possibility.”  

• Read more about Marc Marcel

Marc Marcel has been declared, “One of the most controversial and consciously aware spoken word artists ever,” by radio host Palmetto Star.  Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Marcel was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 10.  “It took me over a decade into my profession for me to realize poetry isn’t my gift,” Marc reveals, “Poetry is just a tool I’ve been using, to spread my gift through.”  With his many artistic outlets, it is difficult to restrict himself to the labels of the art form.  If one were to categorize his efforts, a philosopher would be more fitting.

• Read more about The Drifish

Femi Lawal or Femi the DriFish has been a professional spoken word artist and slam poet for more than 10 years. Best known as one half of the spoken word/Hip Hop-influenced duo, THE 5th L, and the frontman for the Hip-Hop Rock band the Out of Water eXperience, Femi uses his artistry to encourage his listeners to discover their own unique voices and identities in his writings, performances, and teachings.

• Read more about Gayle Danley

Gayle Danley is one of Maryland's most beloved teaching artists. Recently she launched Poetry Pros, an agency devoted to poets who are experts at weaving art into learning. She has worked as an independent MSAC teaching artist and was a roster artist for Young Audiences of Maryland where she was named both Maryland Artist of the Year and Young Audiences National Artist of the Year. After winning the International Poetry Slam in Heidelberg Germany, poet Gayle entered the classroom teaching thousands of children how to access their emotions through the force of words.