Carolyn M. Brown (she/her) is an award-winning journalist, magazine editor, non-fiction author, playwright, and a producer. She is a GLAAD Media Award Winner, Outstanding Magazine Article, “Black & Gay In Corporate America” (Black Enterprise). She co-founded My True Colors Festival: Fighting For Social Justice and Cultural Diversity Through The Arts and currently serves as Board Vice President of All Out Arts/Fresh Fruit Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting homophobia and prejudice through the arts. Carolyn was one of the youngest artists to have a staged reading at the Schomburg Center with her play “Accessories” and has co-written and produced Equity Showcases and Off-Off Broadway productions. The musical play "STORMÉ" is a pivotal moment in speaking her truth.

Hannah “Rock” Roccisano (she/her) is a New York-based director, fight director, intimacy director, educator, and Shakespeare nerd. Upcoming credits include “Wolf Play” (MCC Theatre); “Montag” (Soho Rep); “Sweet Charity,” “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord,” and “Lungs” (Syracuse University). She has taught at PACE University, NYU Tisch, The Knickerbocker Studio, and The Atlantic Acting Studio. Hannah is the founder of Expand, Educate, Empower, an initiative bringing free stage combat training to students in underserved communities across the U.S. For more info please visit safd.org. She is a Certified Teacher and Chair of Development, Society of American Fight Directors. She holds a MFA in Directing and Master of Letters in Shakespeare, Mary Baldwin University.

Crystal Davis (she/her) is a multidisciplinary and mixed media performance artist, poet, painter, freelance writer, editor, and social media marketer. She was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey and is the author and creator at Crystal Letters (CL), and the Co-Founder and Co-Producer of Open Road Poetry (ORP), an artistic partnership between CL and RescuePoetix TM. Her works of art and writing projects, CL and ORP, have collaborated with arts non-profit organizations and artists across the Tri-State area, nationally, and internationally. Her namesake business enterprise, Crystal Letters LLC, provides freelance editing, writing, personalized poetry, abstract illustrations, mixed media painting, public relations, promotional, and social media marketing services. All services are available to artists, poets, and collaborators from all artistic walks of life, arts organizations, nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

The mission of the Paterson Performing Arts Development Council (PPADC) is to bring together multicultural communities through performing arts and cultural events as well as to establish pathways for new and accomplished independent artists. PPADC is a 501c3 nonprofit that offers opportunities for working artists of diverse backgrounds with limited resources and financial means to showcase their works. PPADC supports artists in the production of new artistic works to further their professional careers. PPADC also creates access for low-income urban communities in Paterson, NJ and surrounding areas who could not otherwise afford to attend high-quality performing arts and cultural events.This is accomplished through an all-inclusive “Show Me The Monologue” Playwriting competition, Playwright Residency, student mentorship, the annual Hamilton Heritage Fest, Hamilton Arts Festival, and community cultural events.