Poetry in Motion

Mr. Larry D. Moore II is a middle school English teacher, poet and musician residing in Tucson, Arizona by way of Des Moines, Iowa. Larry has won a number of local slams in the Tucson/Phoenix area, been featured as a finalist in the international SLAM-o-VIsion poetry competition, been named to the 5 poet Phoenix National Poetry team and been cast in multiple stage performances including Charles Fuller's A Soldier's Play. Mr. Moore has coached and mentored poetry and drama students, taught classes from preschool to hip-hop camps and continues to act, perform and compete as a part of his artistic communities.

Heather 'Byrd' Roberts is an award-winning poet, creative catalyst, author of Mahogany: A Love Letter To Black, and founder of Byrd's World, built to inspire and transform lives through creativity. Byrd’s artistic practice revolves around the intersectionality between form and freedom. Each story tastes like ripe mangos, cayenne pepper, or an eclectic combination of the two. Her work enriches the student and educator experience through storytelling and workshops. Byrd’s work has appeared in several festivals, and publications including Sixfold, Expressions from Englewood, Hope Ignited, and will premier in Trouble The Waters: Tales from the Deep Blue in 2022. Her favorite words are balloon and bubble. To join her on her journey, visit www.byrdsworld.com.

Laura Johnson is a poet and writer in Eastern Iowa who is a founding co-editor of the literary journal Backchannels. She is an MFA candidate at the University of New Orleans and is a graduate (BA, MA) of the University of Iowa. Her work has appeared in Goat’s Milk Magazine, Thimble Literary Magazine, Prompt Press, High Shelf Press, among others; her chapbook Memento Vivere  (Cabin Bear Press) is forthcoming at the end of this year.

Kelsey Bigelow is a Midwestern poet who focuses on storytelling with a humanistic approach. She has been a panelist for the 2019 IC Speaks Youth Poetry Conference, a judge for the 2020 IC Speaks Page Poem Contest, and a judge for the 2021 iLuv Slam Fest. Kelsey self published her debut collection, Sprig of Lilac, and has been published in Backchannels Journal and Z Publishing House. She released a spoken word album, "Depression Holders and Secret Keepers," in September 2021. Follow her on social media @kelkaybpoetry.

My name is Jocelyn Rifas. I have been writing poetry since I was in 7th grade. I’m first generation from a Mexican family. My goal is to inspire kids that they can write good poems and get free too.

David Duer was born in the Rubber Capital of the World in the year of the fish stick, soft sell, and red scare. He recently retired from teaching English language arts at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. He's performed his poetry in many venues, including with the bands Pink Gravy and The Monos'labbic Orchestra. His poems have been published in the chapbooks Exploits (Doghair Press, o.p.) and To Bread (Coffee House Press, o.p.) and have appeared in Ascent, Exquisite Corpse, English Journal, Milkweed Chronicle, North American Review, and Poetry, among others. 

Ever Taylor is an Atlanta made, Iowa educated, and slam cultivated warrior of change. As a double major in English and Creative Writing & African American studies, with a minor in Social Justice and a double emphasis in race and gender equity in business, they formerly worked as a Center Programming Assistant at the Afro American Cultural Center, Chapter President for the Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Co-president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council at the University of Iowa where she does great volunteer and civic engagement work. They were recently the recipient of the Mari Nesbitt Award which they were given for holding the highest grade point average in the African American studies program for 5 consecutive semesters and for her service to the university and Iowa City community. They also are a teaching artist who makes space for black queer folx in all she creates.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize, and his second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019. He released two spoken word albums and in 2023, as a part of the Brucemore Artisan in Studio program, Caleb produced his first short film, Willing to Grow. He is the winner of several slams across the United States, and competed in the 2023 UNESCO Slam-0-Vision global poetry slam where he ranked 7th worldwide. He has shared the stage with spoken word titans such as Siaara Freeman, Denice Frohman, Javon Johnson, Ebony Stewart, Anthony McPherson, Danez Smith and Patricia Smith, and videos of his performances can be found on his YouTube channel, Write About Now, and Button Poetry.