In Volume Five: Chapter Five, we welcome Teaching Artists, Poet, Dancer, Spoken Word Artist, and Author of the book Becoming The Artist Volume One, Tarika Holland.

Contact Tarika:

Instagram: @tarikaholland
Instagram: bec0mingtheartist

Featured Performance Poets in This Chapter:
Ariana Brown – We Never Did This to Be Beautiful
Instagram: @arianathepoet Website: arianabrown.com

Crystal Valentine – Black Privilege
Instagram: crystalvalentine94
Website: iamcrystalvalentine.com

Ebony Stewart – Mental Health Barz
Instagram: gullyprincess
Website: ebpoetry.com

Matthew Cuban Hernandez – Challenger
Instagram: matthewcuban Website: matthewcuban.com

Edwin Bodney – Good Morning
Instagram: edwinbodney

In Volume Five: Chapter Four we welcome back to the Program Page Poet, Spoken Word Artist, and Author of the book Far From Broken, Kelsey Bigelow.

From Her Website:

Kelsey Bigelow is a poet and speaker based in Des Moines. She spends her time working as a mental health poet sharing this therapeutic tool with audiences of all ages across the world. She is the author of four poetry projects, including her latest book "Far From Broken." Her work is published with several small presses and journals. Kelsey is a 2024 Pushcart Prize nominee, a 2023 Button Poetry Video Contest Finalist, and a 2023 Central Avenue Poetry Prize finalist.

As a performer, Kelsey has worked with organizations such as The Mayo Clinic, NAMI, Planned Parenthood, and more. Videos of her work can be found on YouTube, Button Poetry, Ghost Poetry Show, and elsewhere. ​

She's the founder of the Des Moines Poetry Workshop, the chair for the Iowa Poetry Association Poetry Slam, a teaching artist in the Des Moines community, the director for the BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam, and a founding member of the 2025 io-what poetry slam team.

Contact Kelsey:

Instagram: @kelkaybpoetry
Website: kelkaybpoetry.com

Featured Performance Poets in This Chapter:
Wayne Henry – Theophobia
Instagram: dreadful_poet

Jae Nichelle – Afro So Big
Instagram: @croptopassassian
Website: jaenichelle.com

Emi Mahmoud – Window Games
Instagram: @emibattua
Website: emi-mahmoud.com

God's Ink – Pennies
Instagram: @gods_ink_spokenword

Alexandria Bennett – Sapiosexual
Instagram: @caffeinatedliving
Website: alexandriabennett.com

In Volume Five: Chapter Three of the Program, we welcome Educator, Poet, and author of the chapbook The Autodidact, Meghan Malachi.

From Meghan's Website:

Meghan is the first-place winner of the Spoon River Poetry Review 2022 Editor's Prize Contest and a 2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Her work is published or forthcoming in Milly Magazine, Rabid Oak, NECTAR Poetry, Pages Penned in Pandemic, giallo lit, and Writers With Attitude. Her first chapbook, The Autodidact, was published by Ethel Zine and Micro Press. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

​Meghan received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Providence College in 2016 and a Masters of Science in Mathematics from the University of Iowa in 2019. She has an MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing from DePaul University, where she also works as a Graduate Assistant and Peer Writing Tutor. Meghan is the Creative Director of Indigo Sessions, an artistic series highlighting the works of Black women musicians and poets. She is an Associate Editor at RHINO magazine and a Programs Coordinator at the Guild Literary Complex.

Contact Meghan:

Website: meghanmalachiwrites.com

Instagram: @meghanbmal

Spoken Word Recording featured this Week:

Farah Habad - 2am in Marshall, TX

X: @habadfarah

Lady Brion - I Talk Black

Instagram: @ladybspeaks

Website: ladybrion.com

X: @ladybspeaks

Dasan Ahanu - I Love You

Instagram: @dasanahanu

Website: dasanahanu.com

Our Conversation with Dasan

Ephraim Nehemiah - 5 Stages of Grief for the Living

Instagram: @ephraimnehemiah

Our Conversation with Ephraim

Alysia Harris - Death Poem

Instagram: poppyinthewheat

Website: alysiaharris.com

In Volume Five: Chapter Two we welcomed Writer and Author of the books How Much Can I See and Love Can't Be Measured, M.L. Ferrell

From M.L.'s bio:
M.L. Farrell is a cancer survivor, a faith-driven storyteller, and a firm believer in embracing every moment life has to offer. After facing some of life’s toughest battles, she emerged with a renewed perspective and a passion for finding joy in the small things—whether that’s indulging in tacos on a Tuesday, blasting Taylor Swift while cleaning, or getting lost in a smutty romance or an epic fantasy adventure.

With a heart rooted in gratitude and a deep love for God, M.L. Farrell writes stories that inspire, uplift, and encourage readers to embrace their own journey. She knows life isn’t about striving for perfection but about finding those moments of light and laughter, even when things get messy. Her books reflect that spirit—a mix of hope, humor, faith, and the courage to live authentically.

Contact M.L.:
Instagram: @authorml_farrell
Facebook: @authormlfarrell
Purchase How Much Can I See and Love Can't Be Measured

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured This Chapter:

Elizabeth Acevedo - Afro-Latina
Instagram: @acevedowrites
Website - acevedowrites.com

Damien McClendon - On Surviving a Lynching
Instagram: @covrd_n_epic

Bella Soul - Interpretation
Instagram: @bella_soul_

Jus Marvin - My Depression
Instagram - @jusmarvinpoetry
Threads - @jusmarvinpoetry

Dani The Poet - Wide Open
Instagram - @thedanicook
Website - thisisdani.com

In Volume Five: Chapter One, we welcome Educator, Poet, Author of the poetry collections Only Believe and Traveling Mercy, and Poet Laureate of Columbia South Carolina Jennifer Bartell Boykin.

Bio From Jennifer's Website:
Jennifer Bartell Boykin is the Poet Laureate of the City of Columbia, South Carolina. She was born and raised in Bluefield, a community of Johnsonville, SC. She received the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a Poetry Concentration (2014) and the Master of Library and Information Science (2024) from the University of South Carolina.

She is the author of her debut book of poetry Traveling Mercy (Finishing Line Press, 2023) and her second book of poetry Only Believe (The Word Works, 2024) is a 2023 winner of The Hilary Tham Capital Collection. Both are published under the name Jennifer Bartell. Her poetry has been published in Obsidian, Callaloo, pluck!, The Raleigh Review, kinfolks, Jasper Magazine, the museum americana, Scalawag, and Kakalak, among others.

She is a 2023 Academy of American Poets Poet Laureate Fellow and organized the Inaugural Soda City Poetry Festival in June 2024. An alumna of Agnes Scott College, Jennifer has additional fellowships from Callaloo and The Watering Hole. She is an award-winning English educator who has taught English for 16 years and was the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year at Spring Valley High School. She is currently a school librarian at Muller Road Middle School in Blythewood, SC.

Contact Jennifer:
Instagram: @jennibb55 @columbiapoet
Website: jenniferbartellpoet.com

Featured Performance Poets in This Chapter:
Kira J - Bitter
Instagram: @allthingskiraj

Gabriel Ramirez - Whenever I Look Over My Balcony
Instagram: @ramirezpoet
Website: ramirezpoet.com

Andrea Gibson - The Nutritionist
Instagram: @andreagibson
Website: andreagibson.org
X: @andreagibson

Anita D - Family Matters
Instagram: @anitadpoetry

Asia Samson - Desks Are Not Bulletproof
Instagram: @theasiaproject
Website: theasiaproject.com

From her bio:
Shanet OB is the author of three poetry books and a children’s book. Journey into 666 is Shanet’s first erotica poetry book. She started writing lyrics at the age of eight which transitioned into poetry. In 2005 Shanet won the National Fine Arts Exhibit sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for her artwork “Vogue of Colors.” She placed first in her age category at the 2005 Burlington County 4-H Youth Development farm exhibit for her color photo entitled “Snowflakes.” She was published in the Creative Communications poetry book Fall 2007 and Spring 2009. As well as contributing to Farmingdale Senior High School Labyrinth Volume One Spring 2009 and Volume Two Spring 2010 with three poems published. Shanet is published on the July 2017 edition cover of UBAWA magazine. A Brooklyn, NY native now residing in the Central Texas area with her husband and kids.

Contact Shanet OB:
Instagram: @authorshanet
Threads: @authorshanet

Support her Cairo Brown Foundation:
IG: @thecairobrownfoundation
Threads: @thecairobrownfoundation

Purchase Shanets books here

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:

Andria All Smiles – Dear Pastors Kid
Instagram: @andria_allsmiles
Website: allsmilesalways.com
X: @andria_516

Shanelle Gabriel – Just Shine
Instagram: @shanellegabriel
X: @shanelleg
Website: shanellegabriel.com

Steven Willis – How the Hood Loves You Back
Instagram: @stevenwillispoetry
Website: stevenwillispoetry.com

Fanta Ballo – Broken Hearts
Instagram: @fantaratty
Website: fantaballo.com

Masterpiece Poet – Truffle Sauce
Instagram: @masterpiecepoet
Website: masterpiecepoetry.com

No guest this week as we celebrate the holidays with family, however we have produced a Chapter Break (a pause between Chapter numbers) that includes a collection of spoken word performances by a number of our favorite Performance Poets.

Happy holidays!

Featured Spoken Word Performances this week include:

Candace Nicholas-Lippman - Ten
IG: @candace.nicholas.lippman
X: @candacethepoet

Joshua Bennett - Transatlantic Love Manifesto
IG: @sirjoshbennett
X: @sirjoshbennett
Website: drjoshuabennett.com

Carvans Lissaint - Tell Them
IG: @carvenslissaint
Website: carvensliaasint.com

Dua Selah - Fractions
IG: @doitlikedua
Website: duasaleh.com

Ghetto Jedi the Poet - I am Metaphor

Jasmine Mans - I Know You Didnt Mean To Kill Him
IG: @poetjasminemans
Website: jasminemans.com

Mecca Morphosis - Penny Dreadfuls
IG: @meccamorphosis
Website: meccamorphosis.com

Propaganda - Twenty Years
IG: @prophiphop
Website: prophiphop.com

In Volume Four Chapter Nineteen, we welcome Poet, Actress, performance Poet, and Author of the books "More Than Me" and "A Cup of Me", Leslie Saint-Julien. Leslie also stars as Janae McRae in the movie "Men Dont Cheat" currently available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.

From Leslie's "About Me" page:

"Leslie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. She has studied Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts. Additionally, she has studied theater crafting, acting fundamentals & playwriting under the tutelage of Drs. Vivian G. Spencer, Gregory Wm. Branch and Baltimore actor, director & playwright Derrell G. Owens.

Leslie is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Also a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), her streaming work and poetry books can be found on all major streaming platforms and everywhere popular books are sold."

Contact Leslie:
Instagram: @lesliesaintjulien
Watch "Men Dont Cheat"

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:

Summer Durant - Future Not Fetish
Instagram: @summeraen

Lyrical Faith - Black Boy Joy
Instagram - @lyricalfaithpoetry
X - @bylyricalfaith
Facebook - @lyricalfaithpoetry

Black Chakra - I Spit Fire
Instagram - @blackchakra88
X - @blackchakra88

Barbara Fant - Brown Body Bending
Instagram - @iambarbarafant
Website -barbarafant.com
X - @iambarbarafant

Jesse Parent - To The Boys Who May One Day Date My Daughter
Instagram - @jesseparent