Ruben 'Beny' Esguerra Ruben “Beny” Esguerra arrived as a child to Tkaronto from Bacatá (Bogotá, Colombia) as a political refugee with his parents, who were receiving threats for their human rights activism. Today, he is a JUNO nominated multi-instrumentalist/producer, spoken-word poet, arts educator and community worker. in 2021, he was…
Tanaya Winder Tanaya Winder is an author, singer / songwriter, poet, and motivational speaker who comes from an intertribal lineage of Southern Ute, Pyramid Lake Paiute, and Duckwater Shoshone Nations where she is an enrolled citizen. She received a BA in English from Stanford University and a MFA in creative…
Kristen Graves Kristen Graves is a folk/americana singer, songwriter and humanitarian. Mentioned by both Rolling Stone and the New York Times, and given her own day across the state of Connecticut by Governor Malloy for her musicianship and activism, she has shared stages with Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, Peter Yarrow,…
Vanessa Lively Vanessa Lively is an eclectic, bilingual songwriter and nonprofit founder who brings passion and fire to her heart-centric writing style and way of living. Margaret Moser of The Austin Chronicle describes Vanessa’s music as “folk music on fire with worldly rhythms and a Latin pulse.” In 2017, Vanessa…
Enrique Chi Enrique Chi is the guitarist and songwriter of psychedelic Panamanian band Making Movies, whose critically acclaimed album - XOPA - has lifted the group into international acclaim. XOPA reached #1 album on the NACC Latin Music chart and was praised by NPR, Afropunk, and Remezcla for its unique…
Maggie Szabo Hailing from Canada but currently based in Los Angeles, Maggie Szabo has been extremely busy releasing a series of high-profile singles, remixes and EPs that have put her on the map as a pop artist and changemaker. Her hit single ‘My Oh My’ was named Stingray Radio’s “Trending…
Jasiri X Jasiri X is the first independent Hip-Hop artist to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate, which he received from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2016. This recognition grew out of the spiritual/political urgency and artistic vision he shared on songs like “Justice For Trayvon” and “Strange Fruit”, which documented the…
Nate Cameron Music has always been synonymous with community for New Orleans native Nathaniel “Suave” Cameron, Jr. From honing his vocal talents amongst church family as an 8-year-old choir member to earning his place in a historic brotherhood connecting lauded musicians like Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, and Terrance Blanchard as…
Elexa Dawson Elexa Dawson is a practitioner of the soul. Her red-dirt honey vocals and rhythmic guitar style deliver a sound that hits home. Both familiar and intriguing, her songs speak of the earth and community, and celebrate all relationships, from mother and child to friend and lover. Kansas-based and…
Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley (AKA RaShad Eas) is a Forester, educator, consultant, and musician. Over his career he has been the inaugural diversity Dean at the Yale University’s School of the Environment and NC State’s College of Natural Resources. As a child of civil rights activists…
