2008

Marv Ellis
(R hythmic A merican P oet)

Home grown in the great Northwest, Marv Ellis combines dynamic conscious lyrics with everyday epiphanies to create his unique and respected style. His enthusiasm at every performance whether it be with his band; Imaginary Friends, or alone on stage with one mic, has brought him recognition all over the country. 

Performing his brand’s new album "Dreamcatcher Juice"...., and dipping deep into his rhyme books, Marv has mastered the art of being a true emcee, and provides a clinic type atmosphere for any spoken word performer.  A poetry show with Mr. Ellis usually means never before seen angles on spoken word presentation fused with beatboxing and jazz scat.

Jeffrey M. Smith, International bestselling author is a leading spokesperson on the health dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  His first book, Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, revealed the serious yet unknown side effects of genetically engineered foods.  In his second book, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, he reveals insider documents about GMO safety trials, and how the world’s most powerful Ag biotech companies have mislead Congress and the FDA about food safety research for the foods Americans buy everyday.

Jeff Golden, author of Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible, majored in agitation and righteous rhetoric at Harvard before dropping out in 1970 to learn how to take care of himself in the mountains of Southern Oregon.  In 1978 he founded the Oregon Guides Association, the first labor organization representing whitewater river guides.  After a decade of homebuilding, logging and river-guiding, he began a 25-year career as a public radio and television producer, opinion columnist, radio talk show host and commentator.  His political career includes service as a Jackson County (OR) Commissioner, Chief of Staff to the Oregon Senate President, Environmental Policy aide to the City of Portland, and membership on many public and non-profit boards and commissions.  He was Oregon's first Nominee for the JFK Profile in Courage Award and works in private practice as a conference speaker, mediator and strategic facilitator. 

Jorah LaFleur is a spoken word poet whose primary focus on stage is the formation of an intimate connection with the audience.  Many of her poems fuse the personal and the political, while others play with mythological, psychological and spiritual themes.  Jorah champions the use of spoken word as a means for making social commentary, and as a tool for personal growth.   Over the last decade, Jorah has had the privilege of performing at diverse venues and events throughout the Northwest.  In addition to performing, she is deeply committed to facilitating experiences in which other people can use spoken word as a tool for authentic self- expression.  She has been the Eugene Poetry Slammistress for the last 2 years, and an ardent OCF participant for the last 13 years.  

Eugene Poetry Slambassador

Jon Labrousse believes, with all his heart, that poetry is meant to be shared, not shelved. As you read this, in fact, he's likely introducing kindergarteners to the poet-ential of the ukulele, celebrating the sound of language with second graders, angsting out with teenagers, shocking adults! or chasing those damn squirrels out of his vegetable garden. That's right: he's living life as best he can, and writing about it.

Wren Davidson has been an herbalist, gardener and earth minister who has practiced in the Pacific Northwest for 35 years. One of the co-founders of the Women’s Herbalist Conference that met in Oregon in the 80’s and 90’s, she continues to teach about the essential plants for food and medicine that are freely available in our region. Her intent is to empower others to take charge of their own nutrition and healing while instilling a deeper respect for the natural world and its preservation. She will discuss Oregon Grape, Stinging Nettle, Yarrow, Fennel, Oats and Dandelion and how the factors of stress, lack of sleep and dehydration affect our health.

WCOE Co-founder, President and Elder Liaison
   
In his capacity as Elder Liaison for World Council of Elders, a 501(c)(3) educational organization, Woody has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America and Australia meeting with traditional indigenous wisdom-carriers of many, many native cultures. 

Tevya Jones, known to his fans as Wisdom, was born into a family of musicians and poets.  He began writing and performing his first songs at an early age.  Wisdom’s lyrical content has evolved to reflect his hopes of inspiring social change on a global level.  “If we believe, we can achieve anything.  It’s all possible.”

Wisdom performed with Medicine Drum on their 2002 album release “Original Face” and toured the world with them for two years.  Upon his return he produced a new studio album, and assemble a group of musicians, the Wisdom Creations Band and includes bass prodigy and son of Tito Garcia (former lead singer of Santana), Luis Garcia; keyboardist Matt Berkeley; award winning gospel drummer Thomas McCree; Chicago underground lyricist and spoken word artist Seasunz, and the newest edition, DJ Cocheze from KRS-One’s Temple of Hip Hop.

Tim Hermach has established an environmental justice movement against the big timber corporations summoning a simple solution he called "Zero Cut": to pass national legislation outlawing all logging of native and old-growth forests on public land.

Like Big Tobacco, the big timber corporations, that strip-mine the nation's forests, have lied to the people. They have used bribery and extortion to influence politicians, and mounted billion dollar public relations campaigns to mislead the public.

More than a poet, more than a singer, more than an emcee--it's not just what she says; its how she says it.  Emerging from the musical womb that is New Orleans, artist and visionary Sunni Patterson combines the heritage and tradition of her Native town with an enlightened modern world view.  She creates music and poetry that is timeless in its groove.   

Sunni has been a featured performer at the many of Nation's premier spoken word venues, including HBO's Def Poetry Jam.  She has also had the privilege of speaking at the Panafest in Ghana, West Africa. She has worked with several well known artists and performers including Hannibal Lokumbe- singing lead vocals for his score,” King and the Crescent City Moon," Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Coleman, Amiri Baraka, Laini Kuumba Afrikan Dance Company, and many more.