Victoria Newton Ford is a poet and essayist from Memphis, Tennessee, currently based in Washington, D.C. As an artist, she believes documenting her observations of the worlds that Black queer women and nonbinary folks inhabit is a form of survival. Her writing has appeared in Wild Age Press, Connotations Press: An Online Artifact, The Nation, Literary Hub, and many more.

 JusPaul is a multi-talented entertainer born and raised in Washington DC. As an independent music professional, JusPaul has released three well-received solo mixtapes which highlighted his vocal talents and creative songwriting skills through a mix of renditions and original songs.  His solid foundation in live performances supports his mission to not merely entertain but to educate and continue to inspire youth to pursue their creativity through a musical experience. 

Tara is a human-centered designer, ethnographic researcher, and photographer. She is innately curious about the world and is constantly questioning the status quo. Tara is a public health professional and has spent much of her career designing and implementing public health projects both in the US and internationally. She is also the Founder and Chief Creatrix of "Period Portraits."

Robert Stephenson's is an artists who's work explores the depths of the human experience through portraiture, video, and oral tradition. Inspired by graffiti and street art, Robert's portraits are large, colorful, vibrant, and imbued with messages and meaning. The larger than life portraits intend to tell a story that often goes unheard while challenging the lack of certain stories told within gallery and museum walls.

Kevin Stokes Is The Founder And Brand Ambassador Of "Unofficial DC" - A Lifestyle, Clothing, And Accessories Brand. The primary mission of "Unofficial DC" Is To Re-Brand The Narrative Of DC As One Of The Greatest Cities In The World! 

Art Aure’ is a classically trained singer-songwriter, merging her breathtakingly beautiful voice with a brilliant fusion of pop, funk, and soul taking her audience on an emotional journey.

Bryant Johnson calls this his “second act.” In his former life, Bryant was a producer for BET and after a wonderful career in music television, life decided to slow the pace. In response, Bryant decided to shift his perspective and pick up the camera and now identifies himself as a freelance photographer/artist here in the District of Columbia.

Hiba Akhtar and Hiba Jaafari are cofounders of "Bluenoon," an up-and-coming gelato company that specializes in flavors inspired by the Middle East and South Asia. Hiba Akhtar is a freelance editor and communications professional, and Hiba Jaafari is a dental hygienist. They're so excited to be part of 202Creates and will be brainstorming and launching most of Bluenoon's outreach and marketing development through the residency Program.

Dana Fletcher is a People Person with advanced academic knowledge of HR best practices, including but not limited to Employee Relations, Training and Development, Human Resource Management, Recruitment, and Occupational Psychology.

Dareon Amaru is an avid reader/writer trained in various styles and methods. As a child, the world of books was his playground and the words on the pages became his playmates. His time at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts provided him with a rich education in poetry, prose, playwriting, and journalism. He credits this experience as his awakening to the possibilities of becoming a professional writer.

Mariama Bramble is a Modern Homemaker, Your Favorite Cocktail Creator, Resilient Home Cook, and a  Lover of Vibrant & Eclectic Style with a Passion for Entertaining. Mariama is here to help you create a well-styled life full of entertaining, inspiration, and Unforgettable experiences with the people you love.

Justin Franks is a digital pioneer helping thought leaders, small businesses, civic organizations, and advocacy campaigns grow their online presence. He believes that access to resources and safe spaces for deep thinking, applied learning by doing, and exploring shared passions with other like-minded free thinkers are critical to entrepreneurial success.

"Cam Poles is a: Thinker. Dreamer. Writer. Doer. Former educator. Former knucklehead. Avid reader. Open to learning new ways (and old ways). A warrior. A healer. Always. Always, putting on for his city. Defending and advancing the culture. Daily working at being the best father, son, friend, and creator I can be."

Ashley Blue Is A Commercial And Documentary Video Producer, Filmmaker, And Art Photographer Based In Washington D.C. As A Full-Time Freelancer, She Works On A Wide Variety Of Projects that Uses Her Skills In Videography, Editing, And Motion Graphics To Help Companies And Organizations Tell Their Stories. Ashley is Currently Working On A Documentary Series About DC Artists that Highlights The Ever-Present And Unique Creativity Of The City’s Inhabitants.

Calvin is the host of the show “Marginally Speaking,” a podcast that dives into discussions centered on marginalized individuals in the realms of pop culture and non-fiction. This podcast combines his passion for hearing others tell their stories and having discussions on issues that impact the communities of which he is a part.

Victoria Ford started her journey into Music Photography in 2010. Since then, the Washingtonian native has captured moments of artists and musicians ranging from Hip-Hop, Soul, Country, and Rock. Her love of music and photography stemmed from weekend trips with her mother to record stores where she wandered the aisles gazing at album covers. Ford’s work has been featured on Okayplayer.com, Ebony, Lomography, Film Quarterly, and The New York Times to name a few.

Tommy Taylor Jr. is A Uniquely Talented Comedian, Actor, And Filmmaker. Tommy is Steadily Paving His Way Towards Success On Stage by Using Comedy As A Bridge To Connect His Artistic Endeavors. Tommy Has also Held Roles In Several HBO Series Including The EMMY Winning Show "VEEP" And "The Wire." 

Tashi brown’s ability to comfort the soul and overcome adversity, while still inspiring others to greatness, started as a young girl living in Roxbury, MA. For over 20 years, she has strengthened communities and people by providing expert advisory and leadership in conflict resolution, employee & labor relations and victim advocacy for non-profit, local and federal government agencies in Washington, DC.

Ronald Smokey Stevens is a veteran performer on Broadway-television-Film and stages around the world. Ronald is also the founder of "the smokey stevens capital city readers theatre," a Producer, Documentary Film Maker, Author, and Playwright.

Jocelyn Johnson-Green is the founder and owner of Boss-ism Consulting Group, which provides life coaching to individuals and organizations. She has extensive experience and knowledge in project management for city-wide conferences and events. Johnson-Green’s love of people and her ability to see beyond project management enabled her to understand her true talent, Life, and Business Coaching

Mica Powers Is Photographer From Seattle, Washington, Who's Work Has Been Featured In; "A Brown Girl With A Camera" Inaugural Exhibition, FotoWeek’s DC "Faces & Places" Exhibit At The National Geographic Museum, And The Community Collective’s Annual Show. Her Work was Also Included In The Photo Book “UnPresidented: The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump And The People’s Response” - Published In 2017.

Emmett Williams is a storyteller exploring the intersection of art and social justice. His award-winning career includes producing films on 6 continents, releasing 5 records as a singer-songwriter and several photography exhibits. Emmett is also the Content Director at Current Movements, a DC nonprofit connecting global activists using film, art, and technology.

Thomasina Perkins-Washington is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Principal Publicist of Capitol Public Relations, LLC (CPR), and a Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Fellow. She has held various positions with the US Government as a civilian and contractor and has had a successful career as an Administrator, Financial/Budget Analyst, Foreign Military Sales, and Community Outreach Management Analyst. 

Kurt Elftmann is the Founder and Artistic Director of Tonic Theater Company, a new company dedicated to increasing public knowledge and understanding of history and science through the power of theater. A veteran stage actor, he has created roles in productions and workshops for Broadway and off-Broadway, including collaborations with composer Cy Coleman and director Joe Layton. 

Hayling And Lawrence First Met In A Freestyle Cipher And Have Been Creative Partners Ever Since. After Growing In Their Respective Crafts, They Realized Their Skills Could Help Them Develop Their Artistic Endeavors And Support Others. Through Their 202Creates Residency, The Duo Is Launching The Grove, An Independent Label And Platform For Musicians That Offers Marketing And Distribution Support, Artist Development And Education, Creative Consultation, And Legal Services.

Kendell Renee Kelly is a creative entrepreneur, tv personality, intellectual property attorney, and protector of creatives. She counsels clients on how to better protect and grow their brands using technology and the law. In addition to her practice, she is also a sought after public speaker and social media darling who was featured in US News & World Report, Crain’s Chicago Business Report, Uptown Magazine, Metro Mix, and a host of other publications and websites.

Amber Robles-Gordon, is a mixed media visual artist. Driven by the need to construct her own finite path, innovate and challenge social norms, her artwork is unconventional and non-formulaic. Ultimately her creations are representational of her personal experiences and the paradoxes within the imbalance of masculine and feminine energies in our society.