AVERY ELYSE

Avery is a First Nations poet and it is her first time on the Windsor Poetry Slam team. Originally writing French poetry and plays, she now writes in both English and French. She works in cultural coordination and aboriginal affairs for the French Catholic school board. 

NATHANYA BARNETT
2018 "GRAND SLAM CHAMPION"

Nathanya is so excited to be returning to the Windsor Slam Team as the 2018 Grand Slam Champion! Nathanya is a poet, playwright and storyteller. Nathanya is a graduate of the University of Windsor with a double major in Drama & Creative Writing. Her poems are attempts at scooping out her own insides and examining them. Though she does not have a medical degree, she hopes these attempts will show her how she ticks. Her attempts are unapologetically queer, feminist, and political. Apparently, that's what she's made of mostly.

BENNY ALEXANDER

Benny Alexander is a poet hailing from Windsor, Ontario. He has been writing since a very young age and has been performing his poetry in Ontario and Michigan for over 6 years. Benny Alexander is proud to boast that after 4 years of performing and competing he is now a current member of the 2018 Windsor Poetry Slam team! He is also the host of Toast Open Mic Poetry and is an advocate for art of all kinds in his community. 

KAT MOSCONE

Kat Moscone is two time Windsor Grand Slam Champion and the 2016 CIPS representative. Her poetry craft bleeds into her story and song writing, and she spends her time practicing and advancing in all three fields. Outside of the Windsor Poetry Slam, Kat is a musician and artist. Through her past 3 years of doing slam poetry, she has found her voice speaking about the queer black experience, and garnered mass support from her friends, family, SlamFam*, and the poetry community. She hopes to spread the joy of poetic expression and help people perfect the craft of embracing vulnerability.

ERIK "E-TOMIC" JOHNSON
2018 "SPIT-FIRE CHAMPION"

Erik E-Tomic Johnson is a local hip-hop lyricist, vocalist and poet. He started his performance career in high school as a backup vocalist for his elder brother Mr. Joshua Johnson a local R&B singer. Erik then stepped into the limelight when he began competing in local rap battles, and numerous ciphers as well as performing his spoken word poetry at numerous functions and open mics.