Josh Healey is a writer, educator, and community organizer who strives to create beautiful solidarity. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Healey has performed and taught spoken word and populist poetry at high schools, universities, festivals, and arts organizations across the U.S. Co-founder of the First Wave Spoken Word & Urban Arts Learning Community at the University of Wisconsin, he helped build the first college hip-hop arts program in the nation. A two-time member of Madison’s National Poetry Slam team, he has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wisconsin Public Television. Healey’s first book, Hammertime: Poems & Possibilities, will be published in fall 2008. He currently lives in Oakland, CA and works with Youth Speaks to empower young artists and leaders across the Bay Area.