Joanie Calem Joanie Calem began her performing career in Israel in 1983, singing folksongs in Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish, Arabic and English, and telling Middle Eastern folk stories for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She simultaneously worked for local NGOs supporting Jewish-Arab rapprochement and often used her music in her…
Gina Chavez Gina Chavez is a multi-ethnic, Austin native is a queer, Catholic, internationally-acclaimed Latinx pop artist who is redefining Latin music in Texas and beyond. A 12-time Austin Music Award winner—including 2015 Musician of the Year and 2019 Best Female Vocals—Chavez is an Austin icon. And word is getting…
Crys Matthews Ask about the new generation of social justice music-makers and Crys Matthews will be mentioned. A prolific lyricist, Matthews blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. “While each and every day, on each…
George Ensle George is a country/folk artist who’s also the originator and songwriting director of PortraitSongs - a custom songwriting service designed to pay tribute and honor loved ones by “Giving them Their Own Song.” He teaches songwriting workshops on the creative process and the crafting aspect of songwriting, in individual…
Omekongo Dibinga Dr. Omékongo Dibinga, CSP, is the author of the bestselling book Lies About Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why it Matters (foreword by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson). He’s the author of the upcoming book entitled Trigger Words: how political language has made America less inclusive…
Zuly Inirio Dr. Zuly E. Inirio, DMA, LSW is a soprano, Creative Producer, scholar, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of art, community building, and social transformation. She weaves together performance, storytelling, advocacy, and organizing to create experiences that foster connection, belonging, and cultural liberation. As Founder…
Pamela Means Pamela Means is a Easthampton MA-based Out(spoken), Biracial, independent artist whose “kamikaze guitar style” and punchy provocative songs have worn a hole in two of her acoustic guitars. Armed with the razor wit of a stand-up comic, engaging presence, elegant poetry, and irresistible charm, Pamela Means’s “stark, defiant…
Theresa Koon Theresa Koon’s career began as a singer, pianist and composer-arranger, performing in wide-ranging styles from Classical to Cabaret to Crossover Music. Highlights included Counter-culture Vaudeville Shows, touring with The Flying Karamozov Brothers, Jim Page, Faith Petric, dADa, and others, alongside straight gigs with Portland Opera, Arizona Opera, Oregon…
Marcell Johnson Marcell Johnson is a transformational artist, speaker, and life coach whose work bridges music, mentorship, and media. He is the founder of Back 2 Purpose (B2P), a youth mentoring program that partners with schools across Western Pennsylvania to teach social-emotional learning and purpose discovery. Through this work, Marcell…
Marx Cassity Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer artist Marx Cassity (Osage/Kaw) delivers inspired synth-driven electronic rock songs with Native nuances, that speak to overcoming hardship through resilience, in connection to nature, humor, love, compassion, spirituality, and heritage. Guided by Spirit, ancestors, and on a mission to help people embrace their identity, Cassity is…
