Barbara Brewster Lewis, Diane Funston, Martin Rodriguez, Stratusfier
Barbara Brewster Lewis, PhD, cultural historian, translator, playwright, and poet, directed the William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture at the University of Massachusetts Boston from 2004 to 2019. Now retired, she is currently working on a memoir about growing up between New York, South Carolina, and the province of Quebec, where she graduated from high school. After moving to Boston, she learned through research that her great-great-grandfather, Jeremiah Bradley, born in the Berkshires, fought in the Civil War for the renowned 54th Massachusetts regiment, celebrated in sculpture across from the Massachusetts State House.
Diane Funston lives in Marysville, California. Diane has been published in various journals and anthologies including California Quarterly, Cabbages and Kings, GUTS, San Diego Poetry Annual, Snapdragon, Whirlwind, Sharp Piece of Awesome, Lift It Up, Summation, and Palettes and Quills, among others. Diane is the founder of a weekly poetry group that has been meeting in Tehachapi, CA since 2001. She also co-founded a women’s poetry group during her six years in San Diego County. She has recently been appointed as the Poet-in-Residence for Yuba-Sutter Arts and Culture and runs a virtual monthly poetry event.
Martin Rodriguez graduated from Harvard College in 1980. His poems have been on exhibit at Boston City Hall and published in the Paterson Literary Review. He lives in Quincy, MA.
Stratusfier is a soul-traveling artist that uses rap and poetry to condense light after exploring his own darkness. He has been published in Oddball Magazine and in the journal Writers Without Margins: Unlocked Edition. His features include events hosted by Stone Soup and hosted by Untitled Open Mic. His poem “Country Summer” has been chosen to be displayed at Boston City Hall as part of the Mayor’s Poetry Program Selections 2021. He is also a workshop leader with Writers Without Margins.
Tyler Champion
Tyler Champion is a freelance illustrator and designer. He grew up in Kentucky before moving to New Jersey to develop his passion at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. After graduating in 2010, he headed back south to Nashville, TN, where he currently resides with his girlfriend, Melissa, and his son, Jude. Tyler has produced work for magazines, comics, design companies, and children’s books, including work for Sony, F(r)iction, Capstone Publishing, and Tell-A-Graphics.
