Mel Donalson: A scholar who received his Ph.D. from Brown University, Mel Donalson researches and teaches the intersection of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity within American literature and popular culture. In the academic arena, Donalson has served as an editor on two texts: Cornerstones: An Anthology of African American Literature (1996), and the Encyclopedia of 20th Century African American Literature (2007). He has written three critical books on American Cinema. A published poet, fiction writer, and essayist, Donalson has written three novels, including in 2015 The Third Woman. He’s published two books of poetry, Dancing on Quicksand (2006) and Revelations (2016). Website: www.meldonson.com
Luivette Resto: A mother, teacher, poet, and Wonder Woman fanatic, Luivette Resto was born in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico but proudly raised in the Bronx. Her books of poetry, Unfinished Portrait and Ascension, have been published by Tia Chucha Press. She is a CantoMundo fellow and has served as a contributing poetry editor for Kweli Journal. Some of her latest work can be read in Entropy Magazine, Coiled Serpent, Altadena Anthology (2015 & 2016), and a forthcoming anthology of Afro-Latino poetry titled, Manteca! published by Arte Publico Press. Currently, she lives in the Los Angeles area with her three children.
Luis J. Rodriguez: Los Angeles Poet Laureate from 2014-2016, Luis Rodriguez is also founding editor of Tia Chucha Press and co-founder of Tia Chucha’s Cultural Center & Bookstore. He’s a multi-genre writer with 15 books in poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction, including the best-selling memoir, Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. His latest book is a poetry chapbook, Borrowed Bones, from Curbstone Books/Northwestern University Press.
Urith Walker: A long-time resident of Altadena and Pasadena, Urith Walker attended schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. She is a mother of three adult children and a grandmother to six. In 2015, Urith self-published her first book of poetry, Then Sings My Soul. She has hosted local poetry and open mic events known as the “The Living Room.” Additionally, Urith has won several “Poetry Slams.” She recently completed her first stage play, and it will premier in August 2017, in the city of roses, Pasadena.