Free First Thursdays: November

Luna Del Flor (Liza Zayas-Sellers), Photographer: John Rodrigues Brewer.

Luna Del Flor (Liza Zayas-Sellers) crafts poetry as a mirror and healer intersecting her lifelong passion for justice, equality, and the healing of humanity. Raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Liza’s Caribbean roots have pulsated her rhythmic poetry into performance art. She has been performing for over 20 years, having her poetry commissioned for and performed at VDay One Billion Rising, International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month, Caribbean Carnival festivals, Indigenous Peoples Day events, Boston's Celebrity Series, and at the Peabody Essex Museum during its Hispanic Heritage Month Artist Series. She is also a 2023 Lawrence Arts Collective Social Practice Artist-In-Residence. She has been a poetry columnist at Oddball Magazine and is co-founder of Release Your Dance, an organization dedicated to celebrating the joys of movement in community. She curates events with others in the roles of organizer, promoter, stage manager, talent coordinator, moderator, judge, hostess, performer or DJ for social justice movements, dance and film events, fundraisers and community building.

Caleaf ‘DJ Big Leaf’, Photo Courtesy of the Artist.

As a Brooklyn native, Caleaf Sellers (aka Big Leaf) began developing his craft at an early age. His passion for dance and love for music has kept him in the business for over 35 years. Caleaf is one of the original pioneers to come out of New York's dance movement in the late 80's. Caleaf mixes Hip-Hop and House to create his own unique dance style. He is a member of the famed Moptop Unit and a founding member of New York City’s Dance Fusion NYC Crew. He is the founder of the Supreme Foundation dance workshops and clothing line, a co-founder of 36ChambazOfStylz, New York's premiere intensive street dance camp, a Director and Instructor of MOPTOP Universal at Manhattan's Peridance Center and has taught as a Visiting Artist of Dance at colleges. Caleaf currently tours the world teaching the art of House and Hip-Hop dancing through workshops, lectures and panel appearances and serving as a judge during battles. His goal is to share the culture of the dances through performances and by teaching movement foundation, technique and history from an originator point of view. He is committed to keeping the culture alive for future generations of dancers. As an emcee/producer, Caleaf has created music for the Break of Dawn Label with the Ten Thieves, Moptop in Japan and on Harlem Recordings with DJ Kango. He is currently signed with Catch the Ghost Records and has released 1 album and 2 EPs on this label. As a DJ, he plays parties nationally and internationally.

He has appeared in the films New Jack City, Strictly Business and Boomerang and has appeared in Renny Harris’ Broadway musical, New York Hip Hop Legends. His television appearances with music artists include Mariah Carey’s Showtime special, the Arsenio Hall Show, Jay Leno, Top of the Pops London and Showtime at the Apollo with Cece Peniston and on the Joan Rivers Show with Crystal Waters. He has appeared in music videos for Diana Ross, Doug E. Fresh, Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Crystal Waters, Pet Shop Boys and Public Enemy. He has choreographed the tours of Crystal Waters, Cece Peniston and Heavy D.

Jason Wright, Photo Courtesy of the Artist.

Jason Wright is the President of Oddball Foundation, a 501(c)3 for mental health advocacy with the mission of ending mental health stigma and educating the public while entertaining, empowering and encouraging people to be their most authentic selves. He is the host of Oddball Show podcast available on all podcasting platforms. He is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine, a literary magazine established in 1995, as a free resource for poets and artists to freely express themselves. He is the author of 3 chapbooks, his latest being Train of Thought 2: More Poems from the Red Line. He is the proud father of Emerson, his daughter. He lives in Norton with his wife Lisa.

Nahdra Ra, Photo Courtesy of the Artist.

Nahdra Ra is a Mother, Fashion Designer, Plantbased Vegan Chef, Entrepreneur, Nutritional Guide, Student/Teacher/Guide of Metaphysics, A Social Activist and Humanitarian. She has taught many Fashion Design Classes in the Boston and Cambridge area, at Artists for Humanities, local After School Programs, The Grove Hall Library Branch, Community Centers, and Mass College of Art for over 20 years.Nahdra has led Healthy Cooking Workshops for youth to elders at local Boston Schools, After school programs, as well as The Food Project. Nahdra's love for Creative expression and Art started as a child as Colors spoke to her Spirit and the touch of Fabrics was often like fresh air. Her love for puzzles and cosmic energy helped her translate her designs to be worn on the body. Each piece has a loving Vibration and intention as it is created.

After years of studying and applying with Queen Afua, Ms. Blue, Ra Un Nefer and the works of Dr. Sebi first hand, as well as studying the work of Bobby Hemmit, Phil Valentine, Jewel Pookrum, and many others in the field of Health and Metaphysics, Nahdra is now providing Scared Wellness Sessions of her own one on one, and workshops for the public of all ages. These sessions range from an Intuitive, Nutritional, Chakra Color/Healing, Ancestral Reading, Womb Healing/Cleansing and or Grounding Work to Guide through our everyday stresses and fast paced lives and or past/current experiences. Nahdra is in Gratitude to inspire and share a Holistic approach to Living that can be applied on a daily basis to promote Healthy Mind, Body, Soul and Spirit.

Tim Hall, Photographer: Niko Alexander with FPoint Productions.

Tim Hall is an award winning musician, performance poet, and producer from Detroit, MI, while honoring Boston as his current home. His poetry draws inspiration from his lived experiences - charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. Tim has shared stages and recordings with artists such as The Nappy Roots, Carolyn Malachi, Bilal, Chris Turner, Aloe Blacc, Maria Fenklemeier, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Diana Oh, among others. Additionally, Tim is faculty at Berklee College of Music, a member of the award winning band STL GLD, and Co-Owner of HipStory - Digital Media Company. He was honored as “Session Musician of the Year” by the 2020 Boston Music Awards, and recognized by WBUR’s Artery 25 as 1 of 25 millennials of color impacting Arts and Culture in Boston.