Mendez
Jasminne Mendez is a Pura Belpré Honor award author and best-selling Dominican-American poet, educator, translator, and playwright of several books for children and adults. Born and raised all over the country due to her father’s military service, She is the daughter of immigrants and considers herself an Afro-Latina of The South since she was raised […]
Bowen Cohen
Emily Bowen Cohen creates comics that explore intersectional identity. She is Jewish and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She uses personal experience to tell stories that examine contemporary American and Jewish culture. Emily grew up in rural Oklahoma. Her father was the Chief of Staff at their tribal hospital and her mother is […]
Abed
Omar Abed writes children’s books, poetry, and computer code. While studying computer engineering in college, Omar turned to spoken-word poetry as a creative outlet for self-expression. His passion for rhyme and rhythm set him on an unplanned path to writing picture books. He self-published his first book, You, Me, and a Tree, in order to […]
Graves
Byron Graves is Ojibwe and Lakota. He was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, where he played high school basketball. When he isn’t writing, he can be found playing retro video games, skateboarding, or cleaning up after his cats. Rez Ball, his debut novel won the William C Morris Young Adult debut […]
Reynolds
Marcellas Reynolds, known as the “Walking, talking fashion Wikipedia,” has traversed a unique path from wardrobe stylist and entertainment reporter to celebrated author. His infectious enthusiasm for pop culture has found a platform on esteemed series such as ABC News, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America 3, and Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” Marcellas’ career in entertainment began with his discovery by legendary model agent Marie Anderson. […]
Tison
Ari Tison (Bribri) is the award-winning poet and the author of YA hybrid poetry & prose novel Saints of the Household (2023) and the forthcoming YA novel Together We See (2025) with FSG/Macmillan. Saints of the Household was the winner of the 2024 Walter Dean Myers Award, the winner of the 2024 Pura Belpré Award, […]
Johnson
Kim Johnson has a rich history of leadership, beginning with her early roles in social justice organizations during her teen years and throughout college. Her passion for creating positive change led her to a distinguished twenty-year career in higher education, where she served in various administrative roles, ultimately becoming a vice provost where she advanced […]
Shepherd
Peng Shepherd is the nationally bestselling, award-winning author of All This and More, The Cartographers, and The Book of M. Her novels have been acclaimed as a “Best Book of the Year” by the Washington Post, a “Best Book of the Summer” by the Today Show and NPR, and featured in the New York Times, […]
Moises
Yesenia Moises is an Afro-Latina Author, Illustrator, and Toy Designer. She uses her colorful illustrations and whimsical designs to create wonder and magic for young readers. In addition to her original Picture Book “Stellas Stellar Hair,” she also serves as illustrator for Tennis Olympian Serena Williams’ “The Adventures of Qai Qai” series. Her work has […]
Tallie
Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and a PhD candidate in the Theatre Arts and Performance Studies program at Brown University. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book Layla’s Happiness(Enchanted Lion Books), and the poetry collections Strut (Agape Editions) and Karma’s Footsteps (Flipped Eye). Tallie’s Dear Continuum: Letters to a Poet […]