Kevin Simmonds is the author of four books, including Bend to it, his latest. He is the recipient of the Edward Stanley Award from Prairie Schooner and the RHINO Editor's Award, and he has received fellowships and commissions from Cave Canem, Fulbright, and the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Danez Smith was featured in American Poets’ Emerging Poets Series by Patricia Smith. His debut collection is ‘[insert] Boy. He received fellowships from the McKnight Foundation and Cave Canem. His writing has appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, and elsewhere.

Tim Seibles is the author of several collections of poetry, including Hammerlock, Buffalo Head Solos, and most recently, Fast Animal, which was nominated for a National Book Award in 2012. He is a professor of English at Old Dominion University and visiting faculty for the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine.

Pages Matam is a multilingual creative writing and performance Artist, residing in the DC. metropolitan area, but originally from Cameroon, Africa. He is a Write Bloody Publishing author, educator, activist, playwright, host, event organizer, and an award-winning slam poet.