New World Curator from 678 Sounds aka Hanifah Walidah is a 30yr seasoned musician, recent Kernel Fellow, NFT curator, author, and founder of Beats Per Mint music NFT, and feminist-infused protocol.

She is an American poet, rapper, singer, actress, playwright, educator and LGBT activist. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with artists like The Vibe Khameleons, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Alexkid, Mike Ladd, St.Lo, and Antipop Consortium.

In 1994, Shä-Key released her debut album, A Head Nädda’s Journey To Adidi Skizm (produced by Earl Blaize), mixing experimental hip-hop, soul and beatbox (featuring Rahzel who became a member of The Roots)

The 2016 42nd Annual Lawrence Award Winner for “Best Seasoned Performer” and the runner up for the 2016’s inaugural Atlanta’s Top Vocalist competition, Susan “Tomi” (Toms) Berry has an extensive background in public speaking and performing.

An accomplished, classically trained singer, Tomi has performed most of her life in multiple music genres, starting formally in gospel and spiritual church choirs in her hometown of Montclair, NJ. She continued to perform throughout college in classical and madrigal choirs, chorale and was the first soloist to sing with the college jazz band.  She also performed with a campus band that did pop and R&B tunes for campus events and private functions.  In Atlanta, she performed with the Hillside Chapel and Truth Center Choir and Jubilee Singers and was a member of the “neo-spiritual” group I Am Unlimited. She has been a member and briefly served on the board of Southeastern Organization for Jazz Arts (SOJA) where she performed a two-woman show with vocalist Nina Carl, with support from Terry Harper on piano, Danny Harper on trumpet and Delbert Felix on contrabass. She also had the opportunity to perform with jazz pianist/songwriter, Donald Brown during an in-home performance in the Atlanta area and has been supported by jazz pianist/musician/songwriter Takana Miyamoto on multiple projects as well as by pianist Rodney Martino Avery.  She was the featured performer at The Velvet Note Acoustic Living Room in 2013 where she performed two shows featuring GRAMMY Award winning, Atlanta-based producer/keyboardist, Phil Davis, bassist. Trey Gilbert, and drummer, Joey Williams.  Tomi continues to perform at clubs in the Atlanta metro area like Riley’s on the Square, church and community events and frequents the local jam sessions including Churchill Grounds, and The Velvet Note Acoustic Living Room. She is currently working with Arthur Turner doing a Al Jarreau/Phyllis Hyman Tribute Show.

Tomi has a background in corporate training facilitation, teambuilding, executive coaching and motivational speaking.  She uses her knowledge of presentation skills and her own stage knowledge as a singer to coach others in voice, stage presence and artist development. She is a native of Montclair, NJ, and attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA graduating with a B.S. in English.  She resides in the Atlanta area with her husband and son.

BrinwiththePen, poet songwriter and producer from New Orleans, La, got started writing at 11 years old. Over the next 17 years she crafted her writing skills most influenced musically by Music Soulchild and Lauryn Hill, BrinwiththePen makes art for the lovers and the revolutionaries.
Brin is very active in the Atlanta Poetry Scene hosting and spitting at shows all over the city. To pour back into the community BrinwiththePen curated “The Ink Refill”, a monthly writing workshop for poets to sharpen each other and provide a safe and intentional space for the art of writing and spoken word.

BrinwiththePen has plans to bridge the gap between saving the world and making timeless music through poetry.

Shannon M. Turner is a professional storyteller and story coach, as well as a writer, dreamer, and nerd. She is the Founder/Creative Director of StoryMuse, which offers storytelling techniques as a tool for personal discernment, team building, advocacy, and community development in effort to cultivate a world where all stories are heard and honored. She is the producer of Carapace, Atlanta’s premiere monthly true, personal storytelling event and has an MFA from Virginia Tech. Read more at StoryMuse.net.

Before becoming a Georgia REALTOR©, Chuma Hicks-Reese has been a poet, spoken word performance artist, author, and publisher under the pseudonym Chuma Whahid Rasul. 

A fixture on the New York City spoken word scene in the late 1990s, he started the now defunct Pauline Publishing, and in 1998, published his first book of poems, The Third Eye of a Butterfly.  In 1998, he subsequently published alifepoeminprogress by Tantra.  He, along with his poetry partner, Fisiwe, now known as Aafroqween, made an appearance with a crescendo crafted duet called Heaven on the 2005 poetry compilation album entitled Les Nubians Presents Echoes, Chapter One: Nubian Voyager after performing with Les Nubians while on tour.  That compilation went on to become a published anthology in the year 2006 entitled Nubian Voyager: Poetry and Music from the Urban Edge. 

After moving to Atlanta in 2005, he founded ChumaSpirit Books, and in 2006, published his second book of poetry entitled The Affectation – Overcoming Shame and Removing the Mask.  In 2007, he later published lovewords: poetry from a place called love by Fisiwe, who, as previously mentioned, is now Aafroqween.   Although he hung up his publishing hat, Chuma is still a lover of the arts and will occasionally recite poetry. 

With a background in big law as a legal secretary, word processor, and some cross-career paralegal work, his attention to detail regarding writing and editing contracts served him well as a professional writer when it came to publishing.  That skill set now translates into his successful career as a real estate agent specializing in residential, commercial and international sales. 

Who is RareEpiphany? That answer is a voyage into complexity. RareEpiphany is an ever-evolving phenomenon.  She is a poet, songwriter, singer, mother, and survivor.  RareEpiphany has toured the country with two stage plays and been featured at Bayfest, Montreaux Atlanta Music Festival, Riverbend Music Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, V-103’s For Sister’s Only, Joyce Littel’s Passion and Poetry, Churchnik, The Decatur Book Festival, Good Day Atlanta, TamikaFest, Java Monkey, Black Love Series, St. James Live, Therapy Sessions, Aural Fixation, Magnolia Festival, 4th Period Poetry, Artistry Live Decatur, The Linda - Albany, NY, Serenbe Art Form & the list goes on. Some know her as Pamela Best, former lead vocalist for inspirational soul band, KOMPANI, with whom she’s opened for Gerald Albright, Stanley Clarke, Alex Bugnon, Gato Barbieri, David Sanborn, The Rippingtons, Steve Oliver, Euge Groove, Rick Braun, Norman Brown and many more. You can hear her rich vocals featured on several albums including Kompani’s 3 CDs, The Nu Flava, Tell Me, and Words & Music.  Some know her as just Pam, owner and head chef and food educator for Piphections catering. Still others have seen her blaze the mic alone or as one of the founding members of the Queens of Poetry or The Honeydripper Poetry Collective.  She is also a member of Atlanta’s Chorale New Creation.  Rare’s greatest work is motherhood. One thing is certain, however, none can deny that she is indeed, a RareEpiphany – A “uniquely divine revelation of the Most High God”.   Rare is a resident of Atlanta and the author of 2 books of poetry: "Of Love...The Poetry of RareEpiphany" and “Soul Kisses”

She is currently working on 3 additional books of poetry as well as a cook book.

Storm (she/her) is a Black woman born and raised in West Philadelphia, who has from childhood experienced inequalities and environmental injustices which led her to become a scholar of the Say Yes to Education (SYTE) program. As a scholar of SYTE, Storm learned how to fight for equality and justice for those who look like her. Storm soon learned she had a strong passion for organizing community resources through written art and education.

Storm’s passion for marginalized communities led her to study at a southern HBCU, Spelman College. As an undergraduate there Storm explored Black Literature and immediately participated in the Afrekete Club which ensured black and brown identifying women were treated fairly across the campus. She takes a stance for collective voices and community care to achieve effective and innovative solutions. Storm is driven by seeing the collective grow and flourish in their own agency by standing on principles around self-determination, individuality, and empowerment.

Storm found a way to merge her love of written art and her compassion for her community through Moore College of Art. It was at Moore where Storm earned her Master’s of Art with a foci in Social Engagement. She has used her experience to cultivate community events that promote healthy and safe spaces for individuals in the community to thrive. And as a Project Lead of the Atlanta Black Pride Youth Festival she ensures the collected voices are heard, seen and carry throughout the activities of the annual festival.

Treasure Von-Holland (she/they) is a junior at Southwest DeKalb High School in DeKalb County, Georgia. She has aspirations to attend Duke University and desires to study genetics and psychology. Additionally, she is a poet, and among competing starters for her school's literary team, specifically in argumentative essay writing. They volunteer over the summer through a program called Los Niños Primero, which helps Spanish-speaking kids get ahead in elementary education. She is also on the Youth Advisory Board for the LGBTQ Institute’s YOU(th) Belong program at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Lexi Markham (they/them) is a Sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia. In their free time, they love to write poetry, read, and be outside. In 2024 they joined VOX ATL Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador Program. Lexi helped cofound a Trans Club at their high school, as well as an Environmental Club in their elementary school. They first engaged YOU(th) Belong in March 2023 when they shared poetry at YOU(th) Belong … On The Stage at OUT Front Theater and has volunteered at Compassion-Con and other LGBTQ+ Institute events. They hope to inspire others to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, embrace love, and exist authentically.

Aafroqween (Fisiwe Zwana Freeman) is a poet, spoken word artist, vocalist, and published author of a collection of poems entitled “lovewords: poetry from a place called love”. She is the Founder and first Host of “The Sugar Shack Café Open Mic Showcase” in Harlem NY. Later she became a host for “Hottest Poets Open Mic” at Mocha Lounge, also in Harlem. As a member of the woman- centered, Spoken Word, Song and Dance Trio Precious Gift Aafroqween has performed from New York City to Canada. In 2000 Precious Gift (Tantra Zawadi, Iyapiphany and Fisiwe) released their spoken word cd "Selling My Diamonds" at Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn NY. In 2005, Tantra Zawadi and Fisiwe released their joint project “Natural-Bring That Poem Home”.

Aafroqween hosted her own internet radio show “LoveArtLife” on Onthamove Radio from 2007-2011.   She was a featured voice on Talaam Acey’s “Morally Bankrupt Volume One: The Wickedest Man In Babylon” and “Mood Demystify”, Queen Sheba’s “Domino Effect”, and Les Nubians “Echoes: Nubian Voyager”. She has been a poetry workshop facilitator, authored and implemented writing curriculum for adult learners and served as an educator for at risk youth and adults with special needs for agencies such as Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Employee Wellness Workshops for the US Department of Veteran Affairs, New York Regional Office and Carpenters Union-Minority Workers Training Program NYC/Brownfields NJ. She is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of LoveArtLifeTV, centering voices of the African diaspora through culture and arts; and the CEO of AafroqweenAuthentic, an African influenced lifestyle brand rooted in celebrating the authenticity of the Black woman’s lived experience.