2012 Featured Readers

Lamont Steptoe

Lamont B. Steptoe is a poet, Vietnam veteran, photographer and the publisher/founder of Whirlwind Press. Steptoe is the author of eight books of poetry, including Mad Minute, Crimson River, and Uncle's South China Sea Blue Nightmare. His work has been anthologized in Life on the Line: Poems of Healing, Brother to Brother, In Search of Color Everywhere, and Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, among others. Steptoe was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 1994 and received a 1995-1996 Literary Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. He was also a Discipline Winner in the Literature category of the 1995-1996 Pew Charitable Trusts Fellowship Program.

For more info about Steptoe, including links to poems, audio & video, check out our announcement post.

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Wings of Worth

Wings of Worth, founded by Jaz and Adriann “The Pen” Bautista, with the vision to inspire and uplift women of all ages, hues, socio-economic & cultural backgrounds to be their best “whole” selves. Wings of Worth exists to use poetically spoken word to inspire, uplift and encourage the world via, print, the worldwide web, guest/feature appearances and audio technology. They do this through collective live performances at Poetry Venues, Women’s Shelters, Prisons, Churches, Universities and anywhere where women may be gathered to hear this message of hope. 

The women of Wings of Worth are: Naila Mattison-Jones, Christina "Khrystle" Atkinson, Na Koikoi Aziza Zenzile Kintehg, Ebony Malaika Collier, Miracle, Lynn Blue aka Lady Blue, Adriann “The Pen” Bautista, Jaz, Alllisss, LOreal "ElleVintage"Chrisp-Seels, and Angel Hogan.