José Cordón

José Cordón is Antioch’s Poet Laureate and the viral poet “CordonConcepts.” His work has been commissioned by organizations like Google, AltaMed, and the Blue Shield of California Foundation. A dedicated community advocate, he founded the impactful Youth Expression Project and now leads various workshops and poetry open mics, using his art to create community connection.

Jeremy Phillips

Jeremy Phillips has dedicated his life to youth development for over 16 years. Drawing from his personal experience as a formerly troubled youth, he possesses a unique ability to connect with and mentor young people. He is skilled in designing educational strategies and coaching youth to success. As a dedicated role model, Jeremy considers it an honor to help the next generation thrive.

Monique “Moe Ministry” McCoy

Monique “Moe Ministry” McCoy is a spoken word poet and author. She brings a unique perspective to her work, blending the rhythms of hip hop and storytelling. Her poetry is both introspective and motivational, exploring themes of identity, self-love and self-discovery.

Donté Clark

Donté Clark is a poet, filmmaker, and actor who uses his art to serve the community, uplifting stories of the past to reimagine the future. He has written stage productions and published poetry collections. He has spoken nationwide at schools, universities, and community about his work and experiences with young people and the arts. He is featured in films including a docu-series about gentrification and its effects on communities of color.

Tajanique Bell

Tajanique Bell is a visual artist, poet, and dedicated youth advocate for underserved communities. She uses the arts as a tool for healing, leading workshops that help young people build confidence and find their voice. She is also a track and dance coach. Taj is committed to creating safe, expressive spaces where every child can realize their full potential.

CieraJevae Gordon

CieraJevae is Richmond’s first Black woman Poet Laureate and the Executive Director of Serving Melanin Collective Serving Melanin Collective, where she creates empowering spaces for young Black and Brown women to embrace sisterhood, creative expression, and self-discovery. She currently teaches Ethnic Studies at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco. Through her work, CieraJevae honors her community’s legacies, fostering healing, growth, and radical self-love.

Alexander Finn

Alexander Finn is a Bay Area poet, public high school teacher, and community leader who draws strength from his rich multicultural roots. Since 2015, he has served as a Pittsburg educator in Ethnic Studies and Creative Writing while directing In My Section, an alumni-founded nonprofit he co-created. Honored with the 2023 Youth Speaks Radical Educator Award and 2024 PUSD Equity Award, he also coaches The Pittsburg Prodigies, a youth poetry team with back-to-back national appearances at Brave New Voices. With two published books and a third on the way, Alex blends artistic practice, mentorship, and cultural stewardship to help the next generation harness their creative talents for local impact.