Jadi Z. Keambiroiro is a freelance writer, publishing consultant, publisher and poet. She has been published in Black Issues Book Review, Jubilee, Dawn, Black Books Bulletin, the Black Review, Welter, Cave Canem VIII and has reported, and served on the editorial staffs of The Baltimore Afro American, the Prince Georges Journal, and the Bermuda Times newspapers. She received her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is a graduate student at the University of Maryland in creative writing and publication design. Jadi left a 15 year career as a fundraiser for several Maryland non-profits to enter the graduate program at UB and to re-enter the world of publishing and writing. She has worked since 2002 for Black Classic Press, the nation's second oldest Black publisher, where she is associate publisher and a self-publishing consultant. She is a Cave Canem fellow, and is currently at work on her first novel. Jadi lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and daughter.
Michelle Diane Wright was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland. She attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire where she earned a B.A. in English and Art History. Michelle furthered her academic career at The Ohio State University where she earned an M.A. in Black Studies and an M.S. in Political Science, and also taught the courses Introduction to Black Studies and Introduction to Political Science. Since that time, Michelle has been involved with a number of projects ranging from journal publications to book design. For five years, she published Natural Alternatives, an Afrikan centered guide for holistic living, enjoying a readership of close to 10,000. She also edited The Case Of Marshall Eddie Conway, a book exploring the legal battles of a former Black Panther and political prisoner, and wrote Let’s Learn Swahili for children. She has contributed freelance articles to the Western Journal of Black Studies, the Afro American Newspaper, and numerous other publications nationwide. An accomplished artist, Michelle has exhibited at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center as well as provided original artwork for various books and CD’s. Michelle Wright currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her daughter Alexandra.
Natalie Stokes is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from the Cleveland Public School system and went on to graduate with a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University. After graduating in 1989, Natalie worked with Procter & Gamble for 13 years with managerial responsibilities in manufacturing, logistics, organizational capability and distribution systems. In 1995, while still working full-time with Procter & Gamble, she started and continues to operate her own custom framing business, Frame of Mind. She is scheduled to teach a creative framing class with the Community College of Baltimore County in 2005. Natalie has volunteered as Board member for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Iowa City, IA, a mentor for the Youth in Action program in Cedar Rapids IA, and tutor and mentor at Thomas G. Hayes Elementary School in Baltimore City. Natalie also works as publishing assistant at Black Classic Press in Baltimore, Maryland.
