Todd Bannon

Todd Bannon, a West Michigan poet and regular performer in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, has degrees from MSU and WSU and has taught at Lake Michigan College. Todd works as a software consultant, which allows him to visit poetry venues across the continent.

Nathan Dannison

Nathan Dannison is a young writer, born, reared, and residing in Grand Rapids, MI. He has been slamming for a year at Gold Coffee Company, and the POP!Café. An aspiring journalist, Nathan is also an accomplished violinist, performing with the Rachel Leep band and the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony.

Greg Bliss

Greg Bliss is a project manager for John S. Hyatt & Associates, a theatrical lighting company located in Grand Rapids, MI. He is chairperson for the performance art committee at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art. He co-directs the X-Performance Group, a performance art / now theater production company.

Mike Dykstra

Mike Dykstra has performed in and organized poetry events in the Grand Rapids area for six years. He helped establish a scholarship for poetry at Grand Rapids Community College, has spoken as a guest lecturer at Kalamazoo Central High School and competes in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Chicago poetry slams.

Melanie Monaye' Sanders (Alternate)

Melanie Sanders is a Grand Rapids native. She has performed in poetry slams acroos the state of Michigan including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. She is a copywriter and journalist, whose works have been feature on various websites and the Grand Rapids Press.