Connecticut Poet Laureates
Connecticut Poet Laureates
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Atom Rush, Brookfield Atom Rush is the Poet Laureate of Brookfield CT and an established spoken word artist. He has released two poetry books and two spoken word/music fusion albums, His poetry is the unique expression of words with substance and style, delivered in a thoughtful and direct way. Rooted in Connecticut, his work navigates themes of social justice, memory, and transformation. His current passion is a music and poetry project that blends original spoken words with improvisational music, a soul-stirring experience grounded in lyricism and live instrumentation. |
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Frederick Douglass Knowles II, Hartford
Frederick-Douglass Knowles II is a Professor of English at CT State Community College. He is an Emeritus Poet Laureate of Hartford, CT. Knowles has received the Nutmeg Poetry Award and the Connecticut of The Arts Fellow in Artist Excellence for Poetry/ Creative Non-Fiction. He is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. He has collaborated with the Kennedy Center and National Public Radio. Knowles is the author of BlackRoseCity and the upcoming collection Sinking in Moonlight Alone, in spring 2026.
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Joshua "AnUrbanNerd" Brown, New London Josh Brown, known as AnUrbanNerd, is a Rap & Spoken Word artist and Visual artist with a background in education and engineering. He serves as the current New London Poet Laureate. He has been writing and performing for more than 15 years and brings a number of experiences to his craft being able to connect with a wide audience. Josh spent years suppressing his gift trying to avoid being a stereotypical black man who raps, however he learned that “our gifts are not your own” and now he makes sure to give his gift back whenever he can. He has published several poems through Magik Press and has written and distributed two Music EP’s. He currently is the Director of ScHOLA2RS House Learning Community, focused on increasing the graduation rate of black men at the University of Connecticut. |
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Michael "Chief" Peterson, New Britain
Michael "Chief" Peterson marries social consciousness with mellow poetic verses. Born and raised in New Britain, CT, he declares himself a man dedicated to his family and focused on helping our youth. Chief not only speaks about social inequities and individual struggle, but he acts to change the cycle. Chief is the playwright of and actor in his one-man show, I Wish Life Had Training Wheels. He was recently appointed as the first ever Poet Laureate of his hometown, New Britain Connecticut. He is graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. He is currently a Dean of Students at his alma mater, New Britain High School, and is also a part-time Child Development Specialist. From the high school where he works, to the stages where he performs, this poet on the rise turns his art into action while inspiring people to do the same.
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Sharmont "Influence" Little, New Haven
Sharmont "Influence" Little is a renowned international poet, activist, and actor whose artistry channels the enduring wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., encapsulated in the powerful quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Through spoken word poetry, he amplifies his message, tirelessly advocating for inner-city youth and performing his transformative works on both national and global stages. Currently, Sharmont holds the prestigious titles of Inaugural Poet Laureate and Artist of the Year for New Haven, Connecticut. Beyond poetry, he bridges his dual passions as a poet and nurse by developing a performance-based curriculum that teaches coping strategies, social skills, and conflict resolution. His work addresses mental health and social challenges, empowering individuals across the country to overcome adversity. Sharmont lives by his heartfelt motto: “Influence a Life everyday it’s a way of living”
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Nadia Sims, Manchester
Nadia Sims is the Poet Laureate for the Town of Manchester. Currently, the poet is focused on spreading her message of grace across CT, NY, and MA. The Princeton graduate is the proud author of A Soft Place to Land, We Know the Dark, and Apostle, Interrupted. Her spoken word album, "The Weight of Grace," is available everywhere.
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Spoken Word Artists
Spoken Word Artists
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Tymani "GodIsTymaniRain" Pinkston
Tymani Rain Pinkston - stage name, GodisTymaniRain is a multi-faceted artist specializing in spoken word poetry, dance, music, and improv. The current repeat CT Grand Slam Champion (2024 & 2025) and former member of the CT Verbal Slap Slam Team, she has triumphed numerous competitions, including; 2025 Southern Fried Competition, the 2023 CT Underground Slam. Beyond the stage, she is a teaching artist and facilitator, who has co-lead 3 Degrees - a multidisciplinary Youth focused initiative, and curates consistent one on one workshops with youth and adults. Through her work, Tymani is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and using art as a tool for transformation. |
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Lynnette Elizabeth Johnson
Lynnette is a poet, a performing artist, a mother, a teaching artist, a storyteller, a workshop facilitator, a social commentator, an avid yet mediocre twerker, a taco connoisseur, and a communication coach. Lynnette uses humor, compassion, gentleness, her imagination, her love of human beings and her comfort on stage to express, dismantle, push, entertain, build relationships, and invite discourse. It is her desire that everyone be free, safe and loved, especially children and Black women. Lynnette is also a published author of four separate collections of poetry. |
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Carl Dean
Carl is a poet, writer, percussionist, and author of two books of poetry, Rhythm (2013), and Life… Through the Words & Between the Lines (2001). He has performed at various poetry venues, universities, high schools, youth centers, churches, correctional facilities and literary and community events for various causes. For many years, Carl hosted a monthly open mic poetry event dedicated to inner-city middle-school students. The program was designed to guide and encourage the students to express themselves through their poetry and provide exposure to higher education and college student poets at the University of Connecticut. For 20 plus years, he has had the pleasure of teaching a performance poetry course at the University of Connecticut, providing a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to meet, share, express themselves, bond and grow through poetry. A self-taught percussionist of the djembé (African drum) and cajon, Carl often infuses their dynamic sounds into his performances. |
Musical Performances
Musical Performances
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Event Emcee
Dr. Justis Lopez - Scholar | Artist Dr. Justis Lopez — aka DJ Faro — is a son, brother, husband, mama’s boy, chocolate chip cookie lover; and mc extraordinaire. His home is diasporic, from the city of village charm, to the melodies of the coqui in Puerto Rico. Home is where the heart is and he currently lives in the boogie down Bronx NYC, where he is rooted in the rhythm of justice, joy, love and liberation. Dr. Lopez is a Harvard-educated educator. His doctorate degree focused on fostering ecosystems of healing, through healing-centered youth development, healing-centered leadership, and healing-centered research through emancipatory inquiry.
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Faith Walker-Tate
Faith is a music major at the University of Connecticut, where she is currently serving her second term as president of the Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir. Her leadership reflects her passion for using music to inspire, uplift, and bring people together. In addition to her work with Voices of Freedom, she has also been a member of UConn’s Concert Choir, UConn’tabile, and A Minor, an a cappella group at UConn, with whom she has competed in competitions with. Faith has also performed internationally in Germany and France and is a familiar voice at events hosted by the African American Cultural Center. She looks forward to continuing to grow in both music education and performance. |
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Isaac Barber
Isaac is a dynamic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter whose performances reflect a deep connection to community, creativity, and cultural expression. With a background rooted in gospel, soul, jazz, and R&B, Isaac brings powerful vocals and emotive storytelling to the stage, weaving together tradition and innovation. His work celebrates the resilience and beauty of collective experience, uplifting audiences through music that inspires reflection, joy, and unity. Whether leading live ensembles or crafting solo arrangements, Isaac’s artistry is anchored in purpose and authenticity. |
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UConn Voices of Freedom
Led by Instructor Rev. Lisa Clayton, a unique ensemble of approximately 80 or more students which provides personal elevation and enlightenment of the gospel and spiritual music of the Black Experience Church. |
2026 MLK Legacy Awardees
2026 MLK Legacy Awardees
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Djimpsy II Gilles, Undergraduate
Djimpsy is a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. At UConn, Djimpsy served as a First Year Experience Mentor and has been actively involved in multiple student leadership roles centered on advocacy, service, and community building. Outside of UConn, Djimpsy works with the nonprofit organization Connect-Us, where she supports and mentors’ youth through leadership development, academic guidance, and community engagement initiatives. Passionate about uplifting young people, Djimpsy is pursuing a career focused on youth empowerment through education, mentorship, and equity-driven leadership. |
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Mia Dansby, Undergraduate
Mia is a senior majoring in Business Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship, Mia is a student-athlete and President of the Athletes of Color Collective. She is committed to leadership, advocacy, and building inclusive communities on campus. |
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Kamal Gautam, Graduate
Kamal is a PhD candidate in Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where his research focuses on advancing the health of marginalized populations. His work examines digital and community-engaged interventions to address mental health, suicide risk, and HIV among sexual and gender minorities and people who use drugs in both low-resource settings and the United States. Kamal collaborates closely with community-based organizations led by marginalized populations to translate research into practice, with an emphasis on equitable and respectful care delivery. Through his research and mentorship, he connects evidence with community leadership to advance dignity, justice, and the right to healthcare. |
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Dr. Alaina Brenick, Faculty
Dr. Alaina Brenick (she/her) is a scholar-activist dedicated to applying a social justice lens to examine how diverse social groups—with vastly different societal structures, norms, and statuses—experience, reason about, and respond to bias-based victimization, intergroup conflict, and systemic oppression. A through line in her work is the search for the inflection point at which individuals and communities demand longstanding inequities be dismantled and how our science can best support these goals. Dr. Brenick is recognized as a leader among her peers for creating systemic change toward the goals of anti-racist, decolonized, socially just teaching, service, scholarship, and practice. |
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Monique Nelson, Staff
Monique is the Assistant Director of Student Services and Campus Coordinator of Engagement and Belonging at the Hartford campus. She champions and is deeply committed to implementing the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework on campus to foster connection, healing, and shared humanity. Guided by a strong commitment to equity, Monique works to ensure all students feel supported and valued in their educational journeys. She formed and currently chairs the Engagement and Belonging Committee, advancing campus-wide initiatives that strengthen community and student engagement. Monique holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the Neag School of Education. |
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Dr. G. Duncan Harris, Alum
Dr. Harris recently retired after 30 years of service to higher education. Prior to retirement, he served as the CEO of CT State Capital, a position he held for seven years. Dr. Harris is recognized as an expert in college leadership, student success and retention, and takes pride in his role as mentor to many higher education professionals. He gives his “time, talent, and treasure” to UConn and serves on the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board and co-chaired the 2025 UConn African American Alumni Reunion Weekend Committee. The weekend was a success with over 250 alumni participating. |
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The GLEA Network, Team/Organization
The GLEA Network (The Gloriae Girls’ Empowerment and Advancement Network) is a youth led nonprofit organization committed to equipping girls and young women, especially those from low-income backgrounds, with the knowledge, skills, and support systems needed to reach their full potential and fulfill their purpose. Founded in 2019 and formally registered in 2023, the Network works at the intersection of quality education, gender health and rights, and leadership and career development. Gloria is a PhD student in Human Development and Family Sciences at UConn and the founder of The GLEA Network. |