The Griots of 2025

Crystal Wilkinson, a recent recipient of a Writing Freedom fellowship , is the award-winning author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, a national-bestselling culinary memoir, Perfect Black, a collection of poems, and three works of fiction—The Birds of Opulence , Water Street and Blackberries, Blackberries. She is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, an O. Henry Prize, an Academy of American Poets Fellowship, a USA Artists Fellowship, and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. She has received recognition from the Yaddo Foundation, Hedgebrook, The Vermont Studio Center for the Arts, The Hermitage Foundation and others. Her short stories, poems and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including most recently in The Atlantic, The Kenyon Review, STORY, Agni Literary Journal, Emergence, Oxford American and Southern Cultures. She was Poet Laureate of Kentucky from 2021 to 2023. She currently teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky where she is a Bush-Holbrook Endowed Professor and Director of the Divsion of Creative Writing. Her memoir Heartsick is forthcoming from Crown.

Jaki Shelton Green, ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina appointed in 2018, is the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate and reappointed in 2021 for a second term by Governor Roy Cooper. 2019 Jaki Shelton Green received the North Carolina Humanities Council Caldwell Award and was recognized as a 2019 Academy of American Poet Laureate Fellow. In 2014 she was inducted into the NC Literary Hall of Fame Inductee, 2009 NC Piedmont Laureate appointment, 2003 recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature. Jaki Shelton Green recently retired from teaching Documentary Poetry at Duke University Center for Documentary Studies and the 2021 Frank B. Hanes Writer in Residence at UNC Chapel Hill. Additionally, she received the George School Outstanding Alumni Award in 2021. Her publications include: Dead on Arrival, Masks, Dead on Arrival and New Poems, Conjure Blues, singing a tree into dance, breath of the song, published by Blair Publishers. Feeding the Light, i want to undie you, The Communion of White Dresses published by Jacar Press, i want to undie you English /Italian bilingual edition published by Lebeg Publishers. Juneteenth 2020, she released her first LP, poetry album, The River Speaks of Thirst, produced by Soul City Sounds and Clearly Records and released a CD, i want to undie you in 2021. Jaki Shelton Green is the owner of SistaWRITE providing writing retreats for women writers in Sedona Arizona, Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts, Ocracoke North Carolina, Northern Morocco, The Loire Valley France, and Ireland. In 2021, The Arts Club of Chicago premiered a commissioned body of work in collaboration with Flutronix for the Black Is Series and was performed in April 2022 by Flutronix and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She serves as the poetry editor for WALTER Magazine and an appointment as the Poet Laureate in Residence at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Additionally, she has been recognized on the Forbes Magazine 50 Over 50 Lifestyle List for 2022.

Glenis Redmond is Greenville, South Carolina’s Inaugural Poet Laureate and a 2025 recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor, awarded by the Governor in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service, and contributions on a national or statewide scale. She received the Highlights Foundation Inspire Scholarship in 2025 and is the Baldwin Fellow (2024–2025), as well as a 2023 Poet Laureate Fellow selected by the Academy of American Poets. Glenis was also named a Citizen Diplomat by the Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center. A Cave Canem Alumni, Glenis is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. She earned her B.A. from Erskine College and her M.F.A. in poetry from Warren Wilson College. She is the author of seven books of poetry, including: Over Yonder: A Poet’s Exploration of South Carolina State Parks I The Song of Everything: A Poet’s Exploration of South Carolina State Parks II The Listening Skin (Four Way Books) Praise Songs for Dave the Potter (University of Georgia Press), with artwork by Jonathan Green In 2022, she received the Governor’s Award for the Arts and was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors, the state’s literary hall of fame. Her poetry has appeared in Orion Magazine, Callaloo, American Poets, The New York Times, and North Carolina Literary Review. The Listening Skin was shortlisted for both the PEN Open Book Award and the Julie Suk Award. Glenis is the proud mother of twin daughters, Amber and Celeste, and a devoted grandmother (“Gaga”) to Julian, Paisley, and Quinn. She believes that poetry is the mouth that speaks when all other mouths are silent.

Nnenna Freelon is a 7X GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter, podcaster, author and advocate for arts education. She has recorded 12 albums and is actively touring, having appeared worldwide on jazz festival stages, concert halls, clubs, in film and on television. She was married for forty years her soulmate renowned architect Phil Freelon. FAIA. With his death in 2019 to ALS and the passing of her sister 6 months later, she was thrust into the “palm of grief.” Reshaped by her losses, she has since been on a path of curiosity about living greatly through grief. She is the creator and producer of the award-winning, musically supported podcast Great Grief which has been hailed as the best narrative podcast on grief by the Public Media Journalist Association. In 2023, she was invited to give the keynote before a national ALS advocacy group on the Washington Mall steps away from the Smithsonian Museum where her late husband led the design team. The design thinking that marked Phil’s architectural career was never more evident than in the three years that followed his diagnosis of ALS. Inspired by his life and legacy, Nnenna wants to share the culture of care that blossomed in proximity to death. Her debut book Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss is part love story, part homage to jazz, and part guide to creative practice within bereavement-is published by Duke University Press.

Kianna Alexander is an author, lecturer, scholar, and womanist. Since 2009, she's published more than 50 titles, spoken at universities, libraries, and conferences nationwide, and has appeared in numerous publications including The Guardian, Essence Magazine, NPR, and USA Today. Like any good Southern belle, Kianna Alexander wears many hats: doting mama, advice-dispensing sister, fun aunt and gabbing girlfriend. She is a proud Bronco alumna, holding a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Fayetteville State University, where she minored in history with a focus on African American, Latin American, and world history. Kianna is proud to tell stories where Black women are loved, valued, and thriving. A native of the TarHeel state, Kianna still lives there while maintaining her collection of well-loved vintage 80's Barbie dolls.

Kita Bryant I am a photographer that captures life moments that stand still even if you don't. I'm a family and brand photographer that captures who you are without all the extra fluff. Along with being a photographer, I also own a t-shirt company (shegeechee.com), I'm a mom who is almost on part time duties, and I work a full time day job because who doesn't like money. They call me the Funny storyteller as I tell stories in my most authentic voice and I capture your story with my camera. I'm a geechee gal that uses my camera, my brand, and written words to tell a story.

Eden Royce is a writer from Charleston, South Carolina now living in Southeast England. She’s a Shirley Jackson Award winner for her adult fiction, and her books for young readers have won the Bram Stoker and the Ignyte Awards; been a finalist for the Andre Norton Nebula Award; been a Walter Dean Myers Honoree; and been named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Find her online at edenroyce.com.

Kelly Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, a teaching artist, and an award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers. Her mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship, & heritage, and show all kids the stories they hold inside. Among her acclaimed picture books are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade, and Bank Street Best Books selections Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations and My Hands Tell a Story. Kelly is also the author of three popular series for young people—chapter books starring her characters Jada Jones and Miles Lewis, and the Ty's Travels easy readers which won a Geisel Honor for Zip, Zoom. Her nonfiction titles include two books in Chelsea Clinton's She Persisted series, chapter books on Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Kelly was named to Good Morning America's 2021 list, Who's Making Black History. She regularly presents to schools, libraries, festivals, and conferences around the country. Learn more at http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com.

Talicha J. is a Black queer poet and teaching artist. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and was a Collaborating Fellow with The Poetry Lab. She is the author of Falling in Love with Picking Myself Up (2015), and Taking Back the Body (2024). Her work can be found on the Button Poetry YouTube channel and in several literary journals. More poems, projects, and offerings live at talichajpoetry.com.

Shanita “Nitadee” Dixon (she/they) is an artist and healer. Her work includes tarot and oracle readings, Reiki energy healing, and portrait photography. Whether working with studio lights or helping someone’s inner light shine brighter, Shanita’s goal is to bring joy, authenticity, and connection on a deeper level.

Steven Leyva was born in New Orleans and raised in Houston, Texas. He is a Cave Canem fellow and author of Low Parish (a chapbook) and the collection The Understudy’s Handbook, which won the Jean Feldman Poetry Prize. Steven holds an MFA from the University of Baltimore, where he is an associate professor in the Klein Family School of Communications Design.

Pierce Freelon is a GRAMMY® nominated artist, picture book author, podcaster & ice cream maker. His GRAMMY® nominated children’s music albums AnceStars (2023) and Black to the Future (2021) have been featured on NPR, Billboard and Today Show. Pierce is the author of two children's picture books with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers: Daddy and Me: Side by Side (2023) and Daddy-Daughter Day (2022). He is co-creator of the PBS Kids podcast Jamming on the Job and is the voice of its star Beat-master BoomBox! He is the founder of Coco Fro, a vegan freeze-dried ice cream company. Pierce is a Dad to two creative and hilarious kids, loves reading Octavia Butler books with his wife of 18 years, and he can still dunk a basketball at 41-year-old!

James Stewart is a Durham native and Rootworker with over twenty years of experience in Black American spiritual traditions. He is the author of The Hoodoo Handbook and Conjure Cleaning, and formerly ran the spiritual product business, Conjure Cleaning. His work blends scholarship, practice, and storytelling, honoring Black ancestral traditions while making them accessible for audiences remembering or just discovering their ancestral spiritual journey. Stewart’s writing and teaching draw on his lived experience, study of African American spirituality, and commitment to community healing. At the heart of his work is a belief that Rootwork is not only a spiritual practice but also a way of remembering, resisting, and restoring balance in the world.

Nicole Glover is the author of the historical fantasy series, Murder and Magic, which begins with The Conductors. Her latest novel, The Starseekers arrives in 2026. She’s been a Locus Bestseller and won The 2024 Webster Award. When she's not writing, she’s working as a UX researcher where her knowledge about murder and other mysteries is surprisingly useful.

J. Rycheal was born in Macon, Georgia, where the land itself holds stories in the marrow of its bones. Their bloodlines have tended this soil since the 1800s, carrying forward both labor and legacy. Descended from conjurers and believers who understood that survival is an art form, they were raised in the Black South on hymns and parables, learning early that words can be both weapon and balm. Today, J. Rycheal carries that tradition forward as a writer, griot, and interdisciplinary artist. A spiritualist and Ifa devotee, their practice draws from Black oral traditions, ancestral memory, and embodied storytelling—recognizing that our narratives live as much in flesh and spirit as they do in the archive. Through film, performance, photography, and writing, J. Rycheal explores how grief, joy, identity, and sovereignty converge, always asking what it means to truly return to oneself and to imagine freedom as something that can be felt, not only remembered. Their work has been exhibited at institutions including the Northwest African American Museum and the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, with their first solo exhibition, Altar Call, offering audiences a path back to wholeness. A graduate of Georgia Southern University with a BFA in Fine Art, J. Rycheal was also selected for Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program in 2019 for leveraging art and technology toward social change.

de'Angelo Dia is a theopoet and mystic whose work explores culture and moral imagination through poetry, performance art, and photography. Rooted in the aesthetics of Black liberation theology and Southern Gothic literature, his creative practice engages themes of contemplative spirituality, embodiment poetics, and Gullah mythology. Dia holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and Sociology with a minor in Photography from Appalachian State University, a Master of Arts in Literature from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and both a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from Union Presbyterian Seminary. His poetry collections include bifurcation (Union Presbyterian Seminary, 2022), the micro chapbook sacred|spaces (Theurgical Studies Press, 2024), and the chapbook nightshade (Bottlecap Press, 2024). His work has appeared in BLACK BOY Journal, The Skinny Journal, Artists Writing on Liberation, Cru Arts & Culture, and elsewhere. He has received fellowships and awards from Cave Canem, The Watering Hole, the Hurston/Wright Foundation, the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, and The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. Dia serves as the Director of Education & Community Engagement at the Independent Picture House and is a member of the Goodyear Arts Collective (Charlotte, NC).

Isaac Hughes Green’s work has been published in The Georgia Review, in Oxford American, in Best Debut Short Stories 2021 the PEN America Dau Prize, won the 2021 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, and won the 2021 Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize. He teaches at NCCU. He was an #AWP25 HBCU Fellowship Program Faculty Fellow. He was also a 2023 Hurston Wright Summer Fellow. He earned an MFA from NCSU and a BFA from NYU Tisch.

Marlanda Dekine is the author of Thresh & Hold (Hub City Press) and the first appointed Poet Laureate of Georgetown County Libraries in South Carolina. She is the founder of Dekine Cultural Strategies, which partners with communities and organizations to foster equity, care, and creative possibility through facilitation, consulting, and artistic practice. Her poems have appeared in Poetry Magazine, Callaloo, Orion, Southern Cultures, and Oxford American, and have been set to music by composers including Douglas Boyce, Omar Najmi, and Lisa Neher. She has received honors including a South Carolina Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, a Fresh Voices Award from SC Humanities, and a Shirley Graham Du Bois Artist Residency. Dekine is also the founder of the nonprofit Speaking Down Barriers and holds a BA in Psychology from Furman University, an MSW from the University of South Carolina, and an MFA in Poetry from Converse University.

Eddie Dee, 40, is a born-and-bred native of Valdosta, GA. A devoted Christian, husband, father of two daughters, and babysitter of his daughters’ dogs, he works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. His parents are Dr. Charles E. Vinson, Sr. and Evelyn D. Vinson, and he’s the oldest of five siblings. He draws inspiration for his writing from his faith, his study of relationship and interpersonal dynamics, and various TV shows and movies like the Mission: Impossible series, Power Rangers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the Ocean’s Eleven series. His debut novel The Affinity Theory won three awards: First Place in Fantasy - Superheroes, Bookfest Spring 2025 Awards Winner in Fantasy, 2025 Literary Global's Independent Author Awards Winner in Science Fantasy, Winter 2025 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award by the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs

Cedric Tillman holds a BA in English from UNC Charlotte and graduated from American University's Creative Writing MFA program. He is a graduate of the Cave Canem Workshop for Black Poets and a former Boston Review "Discovery" contest semifinalist. Cedric's poems appear in several publications including RHINO, The Manhattanville Review, Solstice Literary Magazine, The Florida Review, Kakalak, and Home Is Where: an anthology of African American Poets from the Carolinas. In 2016, he was named a semifinalist in the Saturnalia Books & Cleveland State University Open Book Poetry competitions; he was also named a finalist for the University of Akron Poetry Prize. In 2017, he was named a semifinalist for the University of Akron and Philip Levine Poetry prizes and a finalist for the Press 53 Poetry Prize; that same year, his poem "the flag" received Special Mention recognition for the Pushcart Foundation's Pushcart Prize. In 2018, he was named a finalist for the Lena-Miles Wever Todd Poetry Prize. His poem "Feed My People (The Toxicology Prayer)," published in RHINO in 2021, earned him second place recognition for the magazine's Founder's Prize. His debut collection, entitled LILIES IN THE VALLEY, was a semifinalist selection for the 2011 42 Miles Press Poetry Award, and was published by Willow Books in 2013. His latest collection, entitled IN MY FEELINS, was published by WordTech in 2020. Cedric hails from Lilesville, North Carolina and Charlotte, where he currently lives.

Cortland Gilliam, PhD, is a poet, educator, cultural organizer, and humanities scholar based in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area of North Carolina. During his doctorate program, he studied cultures of school discipline and histories of Black youth contributions to liberation movements of the late twentieth century. Within his local community, he serves as Co-Chair and member of the Boards of Directors at the Marian Cheek Jackson Center and Prism Design Lab. Relatedly, his creative work – spanning poetry, curation, performance, and filmmaking – explores the hues and textures of racialized experiences, identities, and histories. Cortland's poetry has been published in WALTER Magazine, Gulfstream Magazine, and the Triangle Poetry Twenty-Twenty-One anthology. Most recently, Cortland was the Town of Chapel Hill's second-ever Poet Laureate (2023-2024), integrating his studies and practices of cultural and political space-making and community building.

The journey of Mitchell Capel as a master storyteller, motivational speaker, author, poet, playwright and comedian has been phenomenal. Born and raised in Southern Pines, NC he began his storytelling career professionally in 1985 and is now considered the national interpreter of the poet laureate Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) with having over 70% of the poet’s work stored to memory. He is the voice of Paul Laurence Dunbar in film and the kiosks at the Wright/Dunbar Interpretive Center in Dayton, OH. Dr. Joanne Braxton author of “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar” wrote, “Mitch is the greatest interpreter of Dunbar’s work ever!” Mitchell Capel (also known as “Gran’daddy Junebug”) is mesmerizing as he brings stories to life, while plucking the strings with just the touch the human heart craves. He has been described by major publications as “A Word Magician”, “A National Treasure” and “Unexpectedly Powerful”. Mitchell has performed at thousands of venues both nationally and internationally since 1985 including The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, Timpanogas Storytelling Festival in Orem, Utah, The National Black Theater Festival in Winston Salem, NC, The Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He was also invited to perform for the first Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Mitchell has been featured at The National Association of Black Storytelling Festivals (NABS) every year since 1988 and has emceed two Annual Liars Contests for over 30 years. He is the recipient of many awards for his contributions to storytelling including The Zora Neale Hurston Award, (the highest award given to storytellers by NABS). He attended A&T State and Howard Universities studying Speech and Theater, but more importantly he calls himself, “A full time honor student at The University of Life”.

Kamal Bell is the founder of Sankofa Farms, a regenerative farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina, dedicated to food justice, youth education, and sustainable agriculture. Through hands-on programs, he mentors the next generation of Black agricultural leaders while creating pathways for communities to access healthy, locally grown food. Kamal’s work has been recognized nationally, including engagements at the White House and with the USDA, where he advocates for small and Black farmers. He is also the author of Akeem Keeps Bees, a children’s book inspiring young readers to explore agriculture and pollinator conservation.

(she/her/hers) Fọlárànmí Afọláyan is a Spiritualist, Artist, and Reiki Practitioner. Over the past 5 years, she has worked with clients supporting their spiritual growth and empowerment. Her work now explores the intersection of art, creativity, and spiritual connection. Fọlárànmí began her journey to her spiritual practice and Ancestral Veneration through writing her thesis Diaspora Crossroads, which pays homage to her African American and Nigerian lineages. Fọlárànmí has performed Diaspora Crossroads at the Pedagogy and Theatre of The Oppressed Conference, Philadelphia’s Solo Fest, and the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Residency at 1812 Productions Theatre Company. Fọlárànmí earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University.

Victoria Scott-Miller is the founder of Liberation Station Bookstore, North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore. An author, curator, and creative director, she has been featured in The Atlantic Festival, Good Morning America, NPR, Essence, and The New York Times for her work advancing Black literacy and cultural preservation. Her publications include At Night, They Danced, Miss Edmonia’s Class of Wildfires, and contributions to Paw Prints 2024. She creates spaces where Black children see themselves reflected, valued, and free.

C. M. Lockhart (also known as Chelsea) writes books about Black girls who aren’t all that nice. Her debut novel, We Are the Origin, was released June 2022, and her latest series, The Lady Widow, is her first venture into the sci-fi genre. She is the owner of Written in Melanin, which encompasses a podcast and YouTube channel of the same name, founder of the Melanin Library, host of the Melanin Chat, contributing editor of Magic in the Melanin: A Black Fantasy Anthology, and co-founder of the DNF’d Book Club. More information can be found on her website, https://WrittenInMelanin.com

Rian N Jenkins is an author, teacher, spoken word artist, former classroom teacher, mentor among other dope, magnificent titles that uplift and empower the community. She has 20 years experience in the classroom and has been writing for at least 30 years and performing for over 20 years. As of May 2025, she has self published six books: three poetry anthologies, two children’s books, and one middle grade novel. She is a native of Sumter, SC but graduated from Ridge View in ‘98 and Winthrop University in ‘03. She also has roots in Edisto Island, Hollywood and St Helena Island.

Mike is an award winning artist who has been recognized for excellence in writing and design. He was a founding member of NASCAR Digital Media, starting their digital design team and eventually managing design across all fan facing channels. Under Mike’s leadership, his team modernized NASCAR.com and won multiple awards for brand execution and web design. He currently leads design strategy at Duke Energy, helping them modernize their IT products with human centered design and artificial intelligence. As a writer, he has written for Charlotte Magazine, The Salt Collective and Medium, focusing on hip hop, race and spirituality. More recently he wrote about black comics and social media economics in the Eisner award winning anthology “Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation.” His latest project is a graphic novel called “Disturbin’ The Peace”, about a young woman who is a single mom and a superhero. Marketed and promoted entirely through social media, the book sold out in just ten days.

Ty McDuffie is a serial entrepreneur and an Air Force veteran. He was born in Wyandanch, NY, but moved to Wallace, N.C. as a child. He and his wife, Sharon McDuffie, adopted two girls when they were young, Tiaundra and Kiara, who are now 33 and 32, respectively. ​He is the author of the children's book, "Daddy's Doing Hair?!?!?", which is based on how he built a relationship with his oldest daughter by learning to do her hair. ​McDuffie's latest venture is Griot and Grits, a project that preserves the history of the African American experience. Named for the historical West African griot, who was responsible for orally passing down village history, the initiative leverages open-source technology and AI to create a searchable library of oral and video accounts from African Americans. Griot and Grits has a notable partnership with the software company, Red Hat, which supports the project's mission of preserving Black history.

Halle Hill is the author of GOOD WOMEN (Hub City Press, 2023). Her short stories have been translated into French and published in journals including Joyland, New Limestone Review, Southwest Review, Atlanta Magazine, Ursa Short Fiction and The Oxford American. She writes a newsletter called deerbaby and lives in the woods of central North Carolina. She’s represented by Rayhané Sanders at Massie Mcquilkin & Altman (MMQA) and is at work on a novel-in-stories. Since 2018, Halle has led craft workshops and lectures at universities and organizations across the U.S. and around the world, including Appalachian State University, Columbia University, and ISIT-Paris.

Dr. Ariel Seay-Howard is an Assistant Professor in the communication department at North Carolina State University. Her research investigates how the public remembers slavery and racial violence through memory spaces and physical objects. Dr. Seay-Howard has appeared on ABC11 local news and has publicly spoken in national and international venues. She is also a poet and has been writing since the age of nine. She has been performing poetry for over 10 years and has recently collaborated with well-known jazz musicians on various projects and an album. She also has a thriving business called ArielsSolutions, where she makes and sells natural hair and skin products. Along with her research, poetry, and other creative endeavors, Dr. Seay-Howard believes that her work, products, and art can contribute to healing our society.

Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha (she/her) is a curator, podcaster, and artist based in Durham, North Carolina, by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a great-granddaughter of the Great Migration who has returned South, she weaves stories of movement, belonging, and perseverance into her multidisciplinary work. She is the host of The Durham Artist Archive, a podcast that amplifies the voices of local creatives as they reflect on their creative practices and the changing city around them. This and her other projects including Womanifesto Magazine, blog Alyssa’s Art Lab, and a forthcoming pop-up gallery in Fall 2026 are rooted in the same values: supporting local creatives, making the arts accessible, and celebrating Black feminist traditions. Alyssa’s writing and visual work have been featured at the Houston Museum of Fine Art, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Chicago Cultural Center, among others. She was also VAE Raleigh’s inaugural Collaborative Curatorial Fellow. Alyssa will debut her pop-up gallery in Fall 2026 with support from the Snapdragon grant, extending her commitment to making art more accessible to her community.

AsiahMae, stylized A$iahMae, (they/she) is a Black, non-binary Southern poet, and cultural worker with roots in Georgia, South and North Carolina. A trans-disciplinary artist, their background spans across film, curation, production, performance and language arts. Their work is a grounded attempt of devotion to the principles of Sankofa and a lifelong homage to The Black South. A$iahmae is a Watering Hole Fellow and has been featured in The Gibbes Museum of Art, Spoleto Festival USA, The Festival of Words: LA, The Charleston Literary Festival, and in This is The Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, curated by Kwame Alexander, among others. They are currently serving as the Second Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC.