Adam Mansbach
Adam Mansbach is a novelist, screenwriter, cultural critic and humorist. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers 'Go the Fuck to Sleep', which has been translated into forty languages and sold over two million copies worldwide, and the 2014 sequel, 'You Have to Fucking Eat'. His novels include 'Rage is Back', 'Angry Black White Boy', and 'The End of the Jews', winner of the California Book Award. He is also the co-author, with Craig Robinson, of the middle grades series 'Jake the Fake Keeps it Real', which he is currently adapting for television at the Disney Channel, and, with Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel, of the bestselling 'For This We Left Egypt? A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them'. Mansbach was the 2009-11 New Voices Professor of Fiction at Rutgers University, a 2012 Sundance Screenwriting Lab Fellow, and a 2013 Berkeley Repertory Theatre Writing Fellow, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times Book Review, Esquire, The Believer, The Guardian, and on National Public Radio’s This American Life, The Moth, and All Things Considered. His debut screenplay, for the 2016 motion picture BARRY, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award, and his next, DON'T PLAY YOURSELF, is currently in pre-production. Mansbach is also the co-editor, with Kiese Laymon, of the forthcoming anthology 'Breakbeat Fiction'. He also served as a drum tech for the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine from 1997-2004.
Adam Mansbach
Adam Mansbach is a novelist, screenwriter, cultural critic and humorist. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers 'Go the Fuck to Sleep', which has been translated into forty languages and sold over two million copies worldwide, and the 2014 sequel, 'You Have to Fucking Eat'. His novels include 'Rage is Back', 'Angry Black White Boy', and 'The End of the Jews', winner of the California Book Award. He is also the co-author, with Craig Robinson, of the middle grades series 'Jake the Fake Keeps it Real', which he is currently adapting for television at the Disney Channel, and, with Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel, of the bestselling 'For This We Left Egypt? A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them'. Mansbach was the 2009-11 New Voices Professor of Fiction at Rutgers University, a 2012 Sundance Screenwriting Lab Fellow, and a 2013 Berkeley Repertory Theatre Writing Fellow, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times Book Review, Esquire, The Believer, The Guardian, and on National Public Radio’s This American Life, The Moth, and All Things Considered. His debut screenplay, for the 2016 motion picture BARRY, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award, and his next, DON'T PLAY YOURSELF, is currently in pre-production. Mansbach is also the co-editor, with Kiese Laymon, of the forthcoming anthology 'Breakbeat Fiction'. He also served as a drum tech for the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine from 1997-2004.
Ambrose Akinmusire
During his 15-year career, Ambrose Akinmusire has paradoxically situated himself in both the center and the periphery of jazz, most recently emerging in classical and hip hop circles. He’s on a perpetual quest for new paradigms, masterfully weaving inspiration from other genres, arts, and life in general into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching. His unorthodox approach to sound and composition make him a regular on critics polls. While Akinmusire continues to garner accolades, his reach is always beyond—himself, his instrument, genre, form, preconceived notions, and anything else imposing limitations.
Ambrose Akinmusire
During his 15-year career, Ambrose Akinmusire has paradoxically situated himself in both the center and the periphery of jazz, most recently emerging in classical and hip hop circles. He’s on a perpetual quest for new paradigms, masterfully weaving inspiration from other genres, arts, and life in general into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching. His unorthodox approach to sound and composition make him a regular on critics polls. While Akinmusire continues to garner accolades, his reach is always beyond—himself, his instrument, genre, form, preconceived notions, and anything else imposing limitations.
Janae Johnson
Janae Johnson is a Black Queer Poet, Community Organizer, Curator and Teaching Artist. She is the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion as well as the 2015 National Poetry Slam Champion. Janae is also the Co-Founder of two nationally recognized poetry venues: The House Slam in Boston, MA, and The Root Slam in Oakland, CA. Her poetry has appeared in outlets such as ESPN, PBS Newshour, and Kinfolks: A Journal of Black Expression. Janae currently resides in Berkeley, CA and enjoys discussing Stevie Wonder, and Black Musicals.
Janae Johnson
Janae Johnson is a Black Queer Poet, Community Organizer, Curator and Teaching Artist. She is the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion as well as the 2015 National Poetry Slam Champion. Janae is also the Co-Founder of two nationally recognized poetry venues: The House Slam in Boston, MA, and The Root Slam in Oakland, CA. Her poetry has appeared in outlets such as ESPN, PBS Newshour, and Kinfolks: A Journal of Black Expression. Janae currently resides in Berkeley, CA and enjoys discussing Stevie Wonder, and Black Musicals.
Jeff Chang
Jeff Chang is the Vice President for Narrative, Arts and Culture at Race Forward. His books include 'Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation', 'Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop', 'Who We Be: The Colorization of America' (published in paperback in January 2016 under the new title, 'Who We Be: A Cultural History of Race in Post Civil Rights America'). His latest, 'We Gon' Be Alright: Notes On Race and Resegregation', was published in September 2016. His next book will be a biography of Bruce Lee.
Jeff Chang
Jeff Chang is the Vice President for Narrative, Arts and Culture at Race Forward. His books include 'Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation', 'Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop', 'Who We Be: The Colorization of America' (published in paperback in January 2016 under the new title, 'Who We Be: A Cultural History of Race in Post Civil Rights America'). His latest, 'We Gon' Be Alright: Notes On Race and Resegregation', was published in September 2016. His next book will be a biography of Bruce Lee.
Howard Wiley
Tenor saxophonist Howard Wiley has been a major force on the Bay Area music scene since his teenage years in the mid-90s. A protégé of the dynamic Miss Faye Carol, he’s steeped in a vast array of African-American idioms, from gospel, blues and jazz to R&B, funk and hip-hop.
Howard Wiley
Tenor saxophonist Howard Wiley has been a major force on the Bay Area music scene since his teenage years in the mid-90s. A protégé of the dynamic Miss Faye Carol, he’s steeped in a vast array of African-American idioms, from gospel, blues and jazz to R&B, funk and hip-hop.
Lauren Whitehead
Lauren Whitehead is a writer, performer and MFA recipient in Dramaturgy (Columbia University). She writes in several forms including poetry, nonfiction, adaptations and drama. Her writings have been published in Apogee Journal, Winter Tangerine, HEArt Online Journal and in selected anthologies including 'Break Beat Poets, Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic'. Most recently, Lauren adapted Ta-Nehisi Coates’ award winning memoir, “Between the World and Me,” for staging at the Apollo Theater and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Dir. Kamilah Forbes). Last fall, Lauren originated the leading role of “Un/Sung” in the opera “We Shall Not Be Moved” which she has performed at the Wilma Theater, the Apollo Theater and at the Stadsschouwburg Theater in Amsterdam (Dir. Bill T. Jones). Lauren is a Sundance Theater Lab Fellow and she has worked as a dramaturg at Hedgebrook and at The Denver Center for Performing Arts. Her work as a writing coach will be featured in the forthcoming documentary, “Don’t Be Nice.” She teaches dramaturgy and playwriting at The New School in New York
Lauren Whitehead
Lauren Whitehead is a writer, performer and MFA recipient in Dramaturgy (Columbia University). She writes in several forms including poetry, nonfiction, adaptations and drama. Her writings have been published in Apogee Journal, Winter Tangerine, HEArt Online Journal and in selected anthologies including 'Break Beat Poets, Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic'. Most recently, Lauren adapted Ta-Nehisi Coates’ award winning memoir, “Between the World and Me,” for staging at the Apollo Theater and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Dir. Kamilah Forbes). Last fall, Lauren originated the leading role of “Un/Sung” in the opera “We Shall Not Be Moved” which she has performed at the Wilma Theater, the Apollo Theater and at the Stadsschouwburg Theater in Amsterdam (Dir. Bill T. Jones). Lauren is a Sundance Theater Lab Fellow and she has worked as a dramaturg at Hedgebrook and at The Denver Center for Performing Arts. Her work as a writing coach will be featured in the forthcoming documentary, “Don’t Be Nice.” She teaches dramaturgy and playwriting at The New School in New York
Mino Yanci
The foundation of this group comes from the name “Mino Yanci” which means “musical freedom.” The four-piece band makes music that represents who they are and what they stand for, and take listeners on an incredible musical journey. They’ve been honored as a 2018 recipient of YBCA 100 and nominated for Artist of The Year by Sacramento News and Review. The band has toured to SXSW, played the San Jose Jazz Summer Festival and preformed at SF Jazz. Take a journey with Mino Yanci.
Mino Yanci
The foundation of this group comes from the name “Mino Yanci” which means “musical freedom.” The four-piece band makes music that represents who they are and what they stand for, and take listeners on an incredible musical journey. They’ve been honored as a 2018 recipient of YBCA 100 and nominated for Artist of The Year by Sacramento News and Review. The band has toured to SXSW, played the San Jose Jazz Summer Festival and preformed at SF Jazz. Take a journey with Mino Yanci.
Mona Webb
Scholar practitioner, teaching performance artist and Afro-Creek queer activist Ramona “Mona” Webb serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of San Francisco’s Queer Cultural Center which is the producer of the National Queer Arts Festival. Mona is also a facilitator for UCSF’s National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and hosts their annual Young Women’s Health Leadership Summit. In 1999, Mona co-founded and for seven years served as president of the Baton Rouge Poetry Alliance which provides poetry events and programming in Louisiana. For nine years Mona Webb formerly served as Artistic Director of Project ABLE and Lyrical Minded415, which is an Art Based Learning for Equity seasonal course implemented in SFUSD’s Title I Neglected school sites. For 10 years Mona served as poetry Slammaster of San Francisco.
Mona Webb
Scholar practitioner, teaching performance artist and Afro-Creek queer activist Ramona “Mona” Webb serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of San Francisco’s Queer Cultural Center which is the producer of the National Queer Arts Festival. Mona is also a facilitator for UCSF’s National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and hosts their annual Young Women’s Health Leadership Summit. In 1999, Mona co-founded and for seven years served as president of the Baton Rouge Poetry Alliance which provides poetry events and programming in Louisiana. For nine years Mona Webb formerly served as Artistic Director of Project ABLE and Lyrical Minded415, which is an Art Based Learning for Equity seasonal course implemented in SFUSD’s Title I Neglected school sites. For 10 years Mona served as poetry Slammaster of San Francisco.
RyanNicole
RyanNicole is a world renowned MC & Poet whose lyrical prowess has been exploited on international stages and web platforms, garnering fans in the thousands across the globe. She is a TEDx Fellow, whose musical compositions include a solo mixtape, entitled 'Dis’Onance' and several collaborative efforts with her group Nu Dekades (dec-ades) and other artists. Her forthcoming solo release entitled ‘Queen of Everything’ is set to release early 2019. RyanNicole has performed with a wide array of artists and persons of influence.
RyanNicole
RyanNicole is a world renowned MC & Poet whose lyrical prowess has been exploited on international stages and web platforms, garnering fans in the thousands across the globe. She is a TEDx Fellow, whose musical compositions include a solo mixtape, entitled 'Dis’Onance' and several collaborative efforts with her group Nu Dekades (dec-ades) and other artists. Her forthcoming solo release entitled ‘Queen of Everything’ is set to release early 2019. RyanNicole has performed with a wide array of artists and persons of influence.
Tongo Eisen-Martin
Originally from San Francisco, Tongo Eisen-Martin is a poet, movement worker, and educator. His latest curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His book titled, "Someone's Dead Already" was nominated for a California Book Award. His latest book "Heaven Is All Goodbyes" was published by the City Lights Pocket Poets series, was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize and won a California Book Award and an American Book Award.
Tongo Eisen-Martin
Originally from San Francisco, Tongo Eisen-Martin is a poet, movement worker, and educator. His latest curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His book titled, "Someone's Dead Already" was nominated for a California Book Award. His latest book "Heaven Is All Goodbyes" was published by the City Lights Pocket Poets series, was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize and won a California Book Award and an American Book Award.
Zoé Samudzi
Zoé Samudzi is an Oakland-based writer, photographer, and doctoral student in sociology at the University of California, San Francisco. She is also co-author of 'As Black as Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberation' (AK Press 2018).
Zoé Samudzi
Zoé Samudzi is an Oakland-based writer, photographer, and doctoral student in sociology at the University of California, San Francisco. She is also co-author of 'As Black as Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberation' (AK Press 2018).