jus'BEA deems herself as an ARTrepreneur -one with an innate ability to create with or without the approval of the commercial world. One who is vested in the belief of self-creativity. Having a devout passion for art, above the ordinary. Brimming over with ideas...limitless possibilities, artistic ways to enhance the world.

Whether her message is Political, Social, Erotic or talking about being Broke; in the form of a performance, workshop, poem, handbag or a book, jus’BEA speaks from the soul of a strong woman overcoming her obstacles through the art of writing, offering peace of mind through “the word” in what ever form it comes. Although she’s never written to please anyone, the masses are drawn to her. This spoken word soldier’s artistic expression is a truth elixir for ALL things that need to be expelled…
And jus'BEA continuously speaks unapologetic.

She is the author of Baring My Soul, playwright of the drama, A Quarter Past The Blues, freelance writer of various print and online magazines, spoken wordist, motivational speaker and workshop facilitator of Healertainment, C.P.A.M., Sistainment-Girls Group workshops and director of Poetry/Poet in Residence Kansas City Mentoring Initiative, Youth Leadership and Development Corps.

Oni, the Haitian Sensation is an active and determined member of Ottawa's poetry community. The provocative Oni was part of the first Ottawa team to compete at the five-day National Poetry Slam in Chicago. She was part of the first-ever European 2 week Canadian Word Olympics tour. She believes poetry in a way to empower, educate and entertain with opinions on subjects that are not always covered in the mainstream media. She brings students an energetic, contemporary and enraging poetry performance that speaks to issues of vital concern to contemporary youth and adults. As for social activism, Oni is particularly concerned with the ravages of Aids.

Ebony Marshall, living in suburban Pennsylvania, has NOT left her Brooklyn paths far behind. A single parent, at the age of 28, Ebony is still pursuing her dreams. She enjoys the outdoors, reading, writing, and of course poetry. Motivation and constant growth is a top priority for her. Remember, "The crew gets stronger, we vacation longer!"

Donald K. Wilkes aka L.I.T is a rapper, actor and poet from Brooklyn, NY. He recently played the role of Rashad in "The Meeting" at the Paul Robeson Theater and last April he performed in "Neva Give Up" at the Oberia Dimpsey Theater. Currently this rising actor is working on a short film entitled, "The Foggy Feeling."

I first started believing I could put my unique thoughts and observations to paper in the late 80’s through early 90’s when I saw a friend of mine do the same thing, sort of. He did the “one letter in a girl’s name stands for something nice” thing. How I got my belief from that, I don’t know.

I got the bug to write down my thoughts and observations from being introduced and exposed to spoken word events by a good friend of mine who has been a spoken word artist for a good while now. I was exposed to artists who I saw as basically expressing their observations about things around them and things they see in unique and artful ways. From that point on, I started to write down my thoughts and observations on the environment around me, things I have seen, and situations I have observed or been in for the purpose of compiling them in booklet form for the benefit of my little nephew so he may learn from them as he gets older.

That’s my little intro!! That’s all folks!!! (Think WB music – the cartoons)

Will Semo thrives in the spontaneous spaces between the writer and poet the artist and the spokesman for those without a voice.  He is both fire and ice in the style of the Cossack warriors he's decended from, his poetry carries a deep since of individuality and empathy for the common working man.  But this poet needs no balalaika to set the strings of freedom.  He takes the subtle and makes it sublime between the passion and the tenderness of love and life.  Like Walt Whittman, lusty as nature.  Like Kerouac, he plays the intrinsic role.  Like Hendrix and Dylan, a totally American experience saying, "love me".

Ngoma is a performance poet, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and paradigm shifter, who for over 30 years has used culture as a tool to raise sociopolitical and spiritual consciousness through work that encourages critical thought.  A former member of the SPIRIT HOUSE MOVERS AND PLAYERS with Amiri Baraka and the Contemporary Freedom Song Duo, SERIOUS BIZNESS,  Ngoma weaves poetry and song that raises contradictions and searches for a solution for a just and peaceful world.  Ngoma was the Prop Slam winner of the 1997 National Poetry Slam Competition in Middletown, CT and was  published in AFRICAN VOICES MAGAZINE, LONG SHOT ANTHOLOGY, THE UNDERWOOD REVIEW, SIGNIFYIN' HARLEM REVIEW and 'BUM RUSH THE PAGE/DEF POETRY JAM ANTHOLOGY  He was featured in the PBS Spoken Word Documentary, "The Apro-Poets" with Allen Ginsberg.  Ngoma has hosted the slam at the Dr. Martin Luther King Festival of Social and Environmental Justice Festival  (Yale University-New Haven, CT) for the past 9 years.  His newest CD release,"Ngoma's Take Out (Smokin' Spoken Word Cuisine w/Jazz-Funk-Fusion)" and his CD Movie Documentary "Ngoma:Alive and In Your Face from NYC", takes Jazz/Funk/Fusion and the Spoken Word to the next level.  His  CDs "Didgitation:Solo Didgeridoo Musik for Meditation" and "Ancient Future Meditational Musik" are must haves for those interested in altered states of consciousness.

Ngoma is a newly certified Reiki Practioner. For more info check his website www.Ngomazworld.com