Gregg Griffin Gregg Griffin, Jr. is a Talented and Gifted Music Instructor in the Vermilion Parish School System with nearly 20 years of experience as a music educator, performer, and cultural advocate. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University and a Master’s degree in Music…
Kennedy Pugh Kennedy Pugh is founder of Music for the Cause, a mission‑driven music collective that began as a grassroots effort to spotlight suicide prevention and has since evolved into a powerful amplifier for health equity and social‑justice issues affecting communities of color. Blending soulful performance, personal storytelling, and collaborative…
Stephanie Mckay Stephanie has toured over 35 countries playing her original music at major festivals, appearing on TV and major radio stations in five continents. Her music fuses soul, folk and is inspired by legends such as Tracy Chapman, Odetta, and Mavis Staples. She is a member of the Inaugural…
JennyRebecca Opera singer and Berlin-based singer-songwriter JennyRebecca Ronning has earned praise from institutions such as the New York Times, where critic Anne Midgette wrote that “JennyRebecca showed a lovely, smooth voice that matched her poise.” An artist of uncommon range and depth, she moves fluidly between classical performance, contemporary songwriting,…
Al "Papa Rap" Lopez Al Papa Rap Lopez is originally from Puerto Rico and has lived in NWA since 1994. Al is a self-taught musician who has composed and arranged hundreds of songs that he uses in his live performances. He performs solo or he can also bring his 8-piece…
Mark MK McLaughlin Named Community Leader of the Year by Times Review Media Group, Mark “MK” McLaughlin is a powerful force for unity, justice, and joy across Suffolk County. As a gifted vocalist and community builder, MK’s work has brought together thousands through music and advocacy. He is widely recognized…
Idasa Tariq Idasa Tariq is a Hip Hop teaching artist and multi-media operator living in Pittsburgh, PA via Binghamton, NY. Located in Pittsburgh since 2013, Idasa teaches primarily black youth media literacy and music production. Currently, he is creative director of Guardians of Sound's Hip Hop Orchestra and a teaching…
Yusef Shelton Ys1 Yusef Shelton Da First is a hip-hop artist, producer & teaching artist, and community leader based in Pittsburgh. Yusef uses music, mentorship, and movement-building to inspire transformation in the lives of youth and communities. As co-founder of Back 2 Purpose (B2P), a touring social-emotional learning (SEL) and…
Gabriella Simpkins Gabriella Simpkins is an award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Cape Cod, MA. Informed by her vast experiences across genres and performance settings, her music exists at the intersections of folk, classical, jazz, and indie rock. Her work explores the nuances of interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, as…
Sean Avery Medlin Sean Avery Medlin (he/they) is a gamer and Hip-Hop nerd, whose only wish in this world is to watch an unproblematic, Black sci-fi series. Till then, Medlin teaches as both a Teaching Artist and K-12 educator. Their dream is to create rap, poetry, prose and performance full-time.…
