Joanne Fay Brown was born into a family of Old Leftists in Baltimore during the 1950s scourge of the “McCarthy Era” blacklists; her father was blacklisted the year of her birth. She came of age amid civil rights and countercultural movements, political assassinations and anti-war protests.
The poems in her first collection, "Independence Day," released by Main Street Rag Publishing Company, reflects her early experiences as a "Red Diaper Baby” — a child of activist parents during the "McCarthy Era,” — when her parents faced harassment by the federal government due to their political views. These poems reflect those challenging times and show a through-line to our political climate today. Other poems show her growing beyond personal and national trauma through travel to Mexico, recovery from breast cancer, the "Write to Heal" writing workshops she offers for cancer patients and survivors, and finding true love in her late-life marriage to Rod Guinn.
Randy Fowler is a Soul Poet whose work is rooted in vulnerability, compassion, and a commitment to the oppressed. Active in the open mic scene since April 2024, he has been published in Fresh Words, Haikuinverse, Bard’s Poetica, the Saving Ourselves anthology, Wyldside Press’ To Be Completely Honest, and the Long Island Quarterly. He was also a finalist in the 2025 Babylon Arts Council Poetry Contest.
Randy focused his first year in the open mic scene on personally vulnerable poetry and now in his second year is focusing outwardly on social justice issues.
A double-major undergraduate with two master’s degrees and a doctorate, Randy now lives in West Islip with his wife, Coleen.
Robert A. "Bubbie" Brown was born in Aquebogue, Long Island, New York. He is the middle child of five children. He is a graduate of the Riverhead High School class of 1958 and his life is a testament to how God does extraordinary things through ordinary people. Many of his successes were born in the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where he serves as deacon, has been a member of the Choir for over sixty years, a member of leadership team and also volunteers in the church's food pantry (Open Arms Care Center). In the late 60's when young men of color were not readily accepted into local scouting troops, Rev. Wilson Tolbert encouraged Bubbie to form a Boy Scout troop. Troop 259 was formed, and in less than three years won 2nd place in a state-wide Camporama at Heckscher State Park, competing with over 25,000 other scouts, earning Mr. Brown a "Spark Plug Award" for being the #1 Scout Master in the Peconic Bay District. During his thirty-seven plus years employment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, he served for over twenty years as liaison to the Medical Department's Affirmative Action as well as several terms on BNL Director's AA Committee. Recognizing Mr. Brown's love of poetry, Pastor Charles A. Coverdale encouraged Bubbie to write Christmas poems to be presented at the church's annual ''Gift to the community" Christmas concert. With the urging of his beloved wife, Aramentis, Mr. Brown self-published his first book of poetry entitled "It's Time". This endeavor also lead to the release of a CD of Christmas Poems. Mr. Brown was included in a training workshop through the Gamaliel Foundation which focuses on the power of one's God-given gifts. His gifts were utilized within the Riverhead school system where he was instrumental in forming a "Fourth Grade Enrichment" program, where the 4th graders are treated annually to inspirational speakers and role models of the community who have gone on to successful careers as doctors, scientists, financial advisors and police officers. They are even treated to trans-oceanic conversations with fourth graders in Ghana, Africa. As community liaison of the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, he intercedes in many issues involving school, parents, and students. 10 addition, Mr. Brown represents The First Baptist Church in CAP (Community Awareness Program), an organization whose main focus is on the dangers of over-the-counter drugs used among our youth. Mr. Brown co-chairs the East End Voters Coalition, a group whose purpose is getting people registered to vote and to the voting polls. This group also instituted an essay contest for fifth graders in the Riverhead School District where three winners are presented with gifts at the annual JuneTeenth celebration. Over the years, Mr. Brown has been blessed to receive many awards; SCOPE (Suffolk County Organization for Professional Educators) awards in 2008, the PDK international (Phi Delta Kappa) Stony Brook Chapter for educational advances in his community, Omega Phi Chi Rho Chapter "Pride for Fatherhood Uplift Award," Times News Review "Man of the Year" Public Servant Award in 2010 and 2012. Also in 2012, the Kiwanis Club of Riverhead presented him with the "Star Award" for community service. In 2015, Mr. Brown was honored with "The First Baptist Church of Riverhead Martin Luther King Meritorious Award". In 2014, Poetry Street was formed which Mr. Brown co-hosts with Susan Dingle. Maggie Bloomfield and Chip Williford. Poetry Street was open to all at the Blue Duck Bakery Cafe This venture is described by Mr. Brown as "a poetic adventure that only experience can explain". Mr. Brown has not been alone on his journey. He has been in the company of the First Baptist Church Family for spiritual strength, his related family for moral support and his dear and loving wife, Aramentis for his soul support. He is grateful for his four children, Eric, Collene, Robert and Alexa who have provided tests and blessings along the way.
Mary Seymour is a creative arts activist who believes in the power of our individual narratives. She is a theatre artist, historian, and an alumna of Stony Brook University and Suffolk County Community College. Seymour's acting and directing credits include Broadway Production of the musical "HAiR, The Musical," a co-starring role in "Raisin the Musical. In 2025, as an adjunct theatre arts professor at Suffolk County Community College, she directed "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."
Brooklyn born and educated, Howard Beach, Queens raised, Lora René Tuckerhas been featured throughout the New York Metropolitan area since 1992. Also known as the “Therapeutic Poet,” she published her first book of poetry: Writes of Passage, blogged for Harlem World and POZ online magazines, performed readings of her work, and facilitated antiracism and cultural empowerment seminars. She presently is facilitating therapeutic writing workshops for Southampton Hospital’s Wellness Center and her editorials can be found in the East Hampton Star’s “GuestWords.” She is also studying for her MFA in Creative Writing at Stonybrook University, twice receiving awards for returning to academia after years and to research her father’s military history for her thesis. Her past “nine to fives” were a corporate interior designer, graduate professor, and licensed social worker and psychotherapist. She is a writer until further notice.
Chip Williford 2025-2027 Suffolk County Poet Laureate, Director and Co-host of Poetry Street,
Long Island Poetry & Literature Repository board member, also a member of Northport Arts
Coalition and a Northport Arts Poetry Path Exhibit Sponsor, Ambassador for the poetry division
of fuwimu.com (Fund With Music)
Chip is a prose, poetry, and short story writer. He is a passionate equal rights advocate,
filmmaker, documentarian, family historian, good listener, and relatable storyteller. ”His prose
and poetry has been published in numerous publications and anthologies.
“I write from my heart. I write about my childhood. I write about people I don’t even know. I
think poetry is a way to communicate when you can’t really say the words or tell the whole truth
of what is happening. When you can’t talk about abuse or can’t talk about mistreatment, poetry
helps to get those feelings out.
chipwilliford.com
Kris Janvier is an author and poet residing in Baldwin, NY. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Hempstead, NY. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 2013. He studied in SUNY Old Westbury majoring in Media and Communications and later changed to Visual Arts. He has performed in local open mics and festivals around Long Island and New York City since 2017. In 2025, he was featured in 4 festivals including the New York City Poetry Festival. His poems have been published in numerous anthologies (Maintenant 19, Benzo Logic, Nassau County Voices in Verse, etc.). He has self-published his own books titled "Drift" , "Drift 1.5" and "Drift 2" which are available now on Amazon. He is currently a promoter for The Scene Magazine.
George Wallace is writer in residence at the Walt Whitman Birthplace, author of 45 chapbooks of poetry, and winner of the 2025 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award. A New York City native, he travels internationally to share his work and in 2024 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Spain (CIESART).
Jen Senft holds an MFA in Writing from Southampton College and has been a writing instructor for over 15 years: she teaches English and Humanities at SUNY Suffolk, leads writing seminars and workshops, and works with individual clients as a writing coach. She also tutors high school and college students. Jen is an occasional understudy host of Poetry Street! She has been writing since age seven and views being an artist as both a gift and…its opposite. When not writing or working, Jen can be found meditating, birding, reading, drinking ginger tea, or nursing a migraine. She also holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Film, both from NYU. Her poetry, stories, and essays have been widely published.
Sarah Goodman is the Suffolk County Teen Poet Laureate from 2024-2026, Teen Ambassador for the Northport Arts Coalition, and a junior at Commack High School. Her mission is to introduce and encourage a love and respect for the literary arts in the Suffolk County youth. Since assuming the title, she has worked toward this by organizing and running programming for teens an children at various libraries across Suffolk County, speaking at Suffolk County schools, and hosting and featuring at various poetry open mics. Sarah has also organized and judged the first Suffolk Youth Poetry Competition. She has been published in various anthologies and magazines. She has also participated at local events and book fairs. Sarah has a long-standing passion for philanthropy, including clothing and book drives for at-risk youth, and is an active supporter for cancer foundations.
Blupoetres is a Brooklyn native with over two decades of experience as a New York City high school English teacher. After experiencing burnout in 2023, she transitioned from the classroom to a dean's role, seeking to make a broader impact on students. Her educational background includes an Associate in Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, a Master of Science in Education, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
In 2008, she founded her own business, Blupoetres Creations. This is a passion-driven brand dedicated to celebrating the richness of the Black and Brown experience through custom, handmade t-shirts. Each piece is designed to empower, inspire, and connect, featuring Afrocentric themes and positive messages that resonate deeply with our community. Her brand, Blupoetres Creations, believes in the power of wearable art to tell stories and express identity. Blupoetres believes in celebrating culture, creativity, and individuality not just with her words but with her products.
Blupoetres’ passion lies in crafting poetry that highlights the experiences of marginalized communities and sparks meaningful dialogue. She recently published a heroic crown of sonnets, Call Her Woman and Bend the Knee, which was a three-year labor of love that reflects a piece of her soul on every page. Blupoetres has already self-published a journal and a poetry collection. Encouraging students to pursue their dreams has been a cornerstone of her career, and now, she’s excited to finally chase her own.
Robert Savino (born Jamaica, NY) is a native Long Island poet, Suffolk County Poet Laureate 2015-2017, Bards Laureate 2019-2021, Board Member at the Walt Whitman Birthplace and at the Long Island Poetry & Literature Repository Center. He is the winner of the 2008 Oberon Poetry Prize, Association of Italian American Educators - Cristoforo Colombo Award for Literary Leadership (2019), and Town of Islip Italian American Heritage Award for Visual & Performing Arts - in Literature (2019).
Robert is co-editor of two bilingual collections of Italian Americans Poets, No Distance Between Us. His books include fireballs of an illuminated scarecrow, Inside a Turtle Shell and I’m Not the Only One Here.
William Edward Graham III, also known as Will Succeed The Artist (The Will To Succeed of the Bronx NYC), is a talented poet and songwriter who is dedicated to uplifting and inspiring fellow artists. He draws inspiration from his peers in the underground scene and is passionate about creating a supportive community. Will discovered his own unique voice by humming tunes to accompany his writings, and he went on to excel in poetry slams, winning Top 5 every time as his life is a testament to the power of living poetry. Will has organized numerous open mic events throughout New York City, including the popular "Too Much and Extra" series, where he and his team, foster a spirit of appreciation and encouragement by giving roses to the audience to show their admiration for their favorite performers of the night.
In addition to hosting his own open mic events, Will actively participates in Squad 301 of "The Harlem Bomb Shelter", a cultural literary initiative that unites creatives. Unity is all that matters to Will
Author of the collection Tomorrow Smells Invisible (Words With Wings Press, 2020) and the soon to be released Don’t Take The Laughter (Words With Wings Press, 2025),
Brooklyn native Dd. Spungin taught special needs children in the New York City school system. Writing was her quiet place. Once retired, that quiet place expanded into the poetry world, especially on Long Island where she hosts poetry events for Performance Poets Association.
An award winning poet, her work has appeared in many anthologies, and in journals, both online and print.
Several of her poems have been set to music by NY composer, Julie Mandel.
Spungin lives on Long Island with her very supportive husband, Neil.
She lives for love, prays for peace and writes for her sanity.
Heru Smith’s journey with words began at the age of thirteen, when he first started expressing his unsettled feelings through writing. It was his eighth-grade poetry teacher, however, who encouraged him to channel those emotions into poetry, pushing him to explore the power of words. By the time he turned 25, Heru was grappling with the complexities of living with a disability and the emotional weight of feeling “different.” His writing became an essential outlet for navigating these challenges.
In 2021, he began performing his poetry, and in December 2023, he published his debut poetry collection, Thru Shai’s Eyes, available on Amazon. Heru has shared his work at numerous venues, including The Rose Garden, TroubleMAkers, Karma Comes Before, TriMic, House of Khaos, and One Love One Mic. Beyond performing, he serves as the Safe Space Manager at kcbthemagazine.com
Rosalind Benner is an artist who creates paintings, poetry, collage and stained
glass in her East Hampton studio. She shows prolifically and works on commissions as
well. Her glass is installed in synagogues, churches and homes and her paintings are
collected in many beautiful venues. She has a joint MFA in visual art and poetry and has
many publications in journals, as well as four poetry books published by small, respected
poetry presses.
Rosalind uses color passionately, calling on the viewer to travel her art, capturing
attention with a figure nearly obscured but present, a passage of landscape, and uplifting
movement, to beckon us further into the depth of the work.
Her abstractions reveal alphabets and recognizable objects. Her latest work is
figurative abstraction and expressionistic. She loves to paint female figures in joyful
dance. She uses color to further the illusion of entering a world that she sees and one
which she wishes her viewer to share.
Rosalind's work is a fusion of the traditional and the purely imaginative. She
paints her spirit, her vision of beauty. Her stained-glass background is evident in her use
of color, line and shape. Her works are in oil, acrylie, watercolor, monotype.
Hers is a subjective emotional expression of her thoughts, memories of place,
reaction to events, love of life, emerging on paper or canvas through the act of making
art.