Elliott Levin, author of does it swing and his newest poetry CD A Word by Any Other Name is a Philadelphia jazz legend. He has a quite active career as a published poet and likes to combine the two aesthetics in his performances. Ursula Rucker is an interdisciplinary poet, performer, and recording artist whose work reflects on personal history, family, and place. She characterizes her work as situated “along the edge of the terrains of poetry.” Yolanda Wisher was named inaugural Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, third Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, and currently serves as chair of the
Philadelphia Poet Laureate Governing Committee. She is the author of Monk Eats an Afro and co-editor of the
anthology Peace is a Haiku Song with mentor Sonia Sanchez. Wisher performs a blend of poetry and song with
her band Yolanda Wisher; The Afroeaters.