Chris August

Chris August (pictured here with his high school prom date) should not be taken seriously. Really, look at him.

But he's been on some teams and won some stuff before.  Good for him.

Christian Drake

Christian Drake is a recent transplant to DC from Massachusetts. He graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA last year, where he directed the HC Slam Collective. Recently he hosted the College Unions Poetry Slam in Philadelphia, and put out his first chapbook. He lives with his beautiful girlfriend in DC and teaches government at a high school in Alexandria.

Jon Rechtman

Jon Rechtman is 20 year-old and has never had to write a bio about himself. Until now. He started slamming eight months ago and has quickly become awesome, but recognizes that that is entirely thanks to the support, encouragement, and advice he has received from his friends, family, and loved one. He once bought a sweet potato at Whole Foods, and they charged him five dollars. Five whole dollars for a fucking sweet potato. The memory still burns, and fuels the fire he needs to perform.

Sonya Renee

Captivating, Crazy and just plain Cool...somebody must be talking about spoken word artist Sonya Renee. Sonya made her debut onto the DC poetry scene in April 2003. Since then, Sonya Renee has performed with artists like Peabo Bryson, Floetry as well as performing at the National March for Women’s Lives in 2004. Sonya Renee’s mixture of humor, reality and a pinch of big black girl sass makes each listener feel like a Saturday afternoon phone call with their best girl friend or baby boo.This year Sonya became the newest team member of the DC/Baltimore National Slam Team.

Kim Zisa

Kimberley Zisa had aspirations once; but now she is a poet. She blames society, the media and her parents for this.  But mostly her parents.  When they are speaking to or about her, Kimberley's parents hail her as one of the top ranked slam poets in the Baltimore area in this past year and an individual competitor at the 2004 National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, Missouri.  Since February of 2004, she has taken the York poetry scene by storm (well, as much as one can take York by storm--it was kinda like a tornado in a trailer park....), won over all of Baltimore and parts of DC, and authored the chapbook Lingusitic Battles.  She is currently working on a follow up as well as a CD of original work.   She is originally from Jersey, so please be nice and speak slowly.