Victoria Rowell: television and film actress and author of The Women Who Raised Me and producer of the documentary The Mentor, about the important people in her life who have helped her achieve success. Rowell is a regular on the television series The Young and Restless; her feature films include Eve’s Bayou, Distinguished Gentleman and Home of the Brave. She has also been honored with 12 NAACP Image Awards   more »

Tony Medina: author of 12 books for adults and children, including Committed to Breathing and Follow-up Letters to Santa From Kids Who Never Got a Response. Medina’s poetry, fiction and essays appear in more than 30 anthologies and two CD compilations. He is the recipient of the Parent's Guide Children's Media Award (2001), the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (2002), and the Rhode Island Children's Book Award (2003).   more »

Terrie Williams: author of the groundbreaking 2005 Essence article Depression and the Superwoman, which focused on her battle with clinical depression. Her book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re not Hurting identifies emotional pain which uniquely affects the Black experience as the root of destructive acts of crime and violence. Her public relations firm, The Terrie Williams Agency, represents top names in entertainment, sports, business and politics.   more »

Kevin Powell: A political activist, poet, journalist, essayist, hip-hop historian, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Powell has published eight books, including Be a Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men on Family, Love, and Fatherhood and Someday We’ll All Be Free. Powell’s upcoming books include No Sleep Till Brooklyn and his second volume of poetry.   more »

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes: author of five novels: Voodoo Dreams, Magic City, Douglass’ Women, Voodoo Season, Yellow Moon, and a memoir, Porch Stories: A Grandmother’s Guide to Happiness. Her sixth novel, Hurricane Levee Blues, is forthcoming. She has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and has received an American Book Award, the National Endowment of the Arts Award and the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence.   more »

Alexus Rhone is a YA author devoted to candidly exploring teen/young adult issues through fiction. Graciously labeled “the black Judy Blume,” her universal stories and raw voice engages even the most reluctant of readers. Her debut novel, Premature Pleasures (2001), hit Children’s/Young Adult bestseller lists around the southwest region...   more »

Guest Poet: Frank X Walker is the author of four poetry collections: When Winter Come: the Ascension of York (University Press of Kentucky, 2008); Black Box (Old Cove Press, 2005); Buffalo Dance: the Journey of York (University Press of Kentucky, 2003), which won the Lillian Smith Book Award in 2004; and Affrilachia (Old Cove Press, 2000).  more »