JONATHAN GNO WHITE

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT/

MC VIBE SMOOTHER

GNO, similar to but unlike Cher, Madonna, Prince, and other single named divas was meant to be… hot and artsy. He made the 2005 list of “One of the 64 People Making Dallas Hot” by D Magazine.  GNO has dabbled in a broad range of artistic endeavors that have allowed him to work on projects ranging from music videos to corporate marketing campaigns. Along with his premier poetry performance troupe OIL (Ordained In Lyrics) he has done voice-over work for McDonalds, NBC, and other corporate entities.  Hailing from Dallas, Texas, GNO has been writing, creating, and performing creative works of literature, music, and film for over three decades. 

He is published - with his most noted work being “Process of Confession” a short collection of poetry. He has been featured in a number of anthologies and literary reviews and is a twice National Poetry Slam finalist and one-time Champion (1998 and 2001).  GNO has a BA in Literary Studies and a BA in Art & Performance as well as a MFA in Art & Technology all from The University of Texas at Dallas. His education has given him a strong background in video/film production, graphic design, and social media strategic management. However, he counts himself as a largely self-taught and self-motivated artist with a desire to play a larger role in the creative arts community.  He is currently a higher education professional and serving as the Asst. Director of Student Life Programs at his alma mater UT Dallas.

KING SHAKUR

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AND ENGAGEMENT/

DJ VIBE MUSIQUARIUM

K.I.N.G. (Knowledge Intelligent Nubian God) 

​

King Shakur is a fun loving poet, activist, mentor, lover, fighter, and everything in between. Born in Dallas, TX and raised in the South Dallas neighborhood. He wrote his first poem at 12 and his first performance was in a Baptist church, at the age of 17, when a lady that saw his unique gift for the art made him get up in front of his peers and showcase his talent. Since then he has been dedicated to helping people young, and old find their voice, and he encourages them to give it to the world, because, “we all have a story to tell”.

King has written hundreds of poems, been a feature performer in over fifteen states, competed in Southern Fried Poetry Slams in New Orleans, Durham NC and the National Poetry Slam in Chicago as a member of Columbia SC’s first Poetry Slam Team in 2003. He was also a member of New Danger Poetry Slam Team in 2009. King opened for Amiri Baraka at Wake Forest University and was featured at Rust College in Holly Springs MS at the National African American Student Leadership Conference, with Dr. Sonja Sanchez.

His Poetry was also adopted by Allendale County High School English department, and was studied by their students’ spring of 2010. He is the founder of S.T.R.U.G-LIN LCG and President of the New Danger art Collective, and a voting member of Alternate Roots. He is Co-founder and executive producer of Ladypalooza, an all female art showcase celebrating the lives and work or women. He served as the creative writing instructor at the South Dallas Cultural Center for three years. He has released three chap books; was published in the Anthology of African American poets, by the University of South Carolina and released his first full length book of poetry, Streetlights J’s and Hip Hop in April 2016, which is the winner of the Black Caucus of Librarians Poetry Book of the Year Award, and he won Author of the Year at the Memphis Book Festival the same year.

King now leads Volunteering While Black, promoting volunteerism in the African American community, and supporting several service organizations. He has provided over $5000 in in-kind DJing an MC services in 2019 as well as nonprofit consulting. He holds a BA in Music, a MA in Public Leadership and if currently pursing his PhD in Ethical and Creative Leadership while serving as the Director of Community Youth Development at the University of North Texas at Dallas. He is Mental Health First Aid Certified for both children and adults.

​

Contact King Shakur:

www.thekingshakur.com king@ytheycalluking.com  https://www.facebook.com/kingisapoet

NIKISHA PATTON HANDY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/

THE VIBE CREATOR

Nikisha Patton Handy began teaching in 2005 as a special education teacher, earning a Bachelor's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, a Master's degree in Special Education specializing in Behavioral Interventions, and currently working to complete a Doctorate degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Nikisha is the proud business owner of 2 Inspire Peace which is a company and a nonprofit which seeks to inspire peace for children and for  those that pour into children by offering stress relief and healing from trauma by way of mindful meditation, offering retreats, professional development opportunities, art inspiration, aromatherapy and de-escalation products, and life changing events for educators, mentors, and caregivers. Her goal is to create a spark and prompt a change in lifestyle to positively influence our community to shift in a way that will impact children. Our intention is to create resilience within using mindfulness and social emotional learning to bring healing to childhood trauma and mental health concerns in holistic, spiritual and art inspired ways to increase resilience.

​

​Nikisha Patton Handy has been an educator for over 15 years and made her choice to do so because she recognized the over representation of black students receiving special education. So, she entered the educational system to make an impact. Nikisha is currently serving as a mentor throughout the urban areas and Title 1 schools within the community hosting events for the community, educators, mentors, homeschoolers, and caregivers to heighten awareness of the importance of maintaining a mindful and healthy well-being to pour into our future in a holistically and culturally responsive way. These events heighten awareness within our community about the power of the breath, meditation, art inspiration, mindfulness, healing, releasing, spirituality, and aromatherapy. Her entire career has always been committed to positively impacting and giving back to her community as a strong advocate for social justice and equity for all students. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Nikisha is Mental Health First Aid Certified for adults, certified CBT Cognitive Behavior Life coach, and Mindfulness Practitioner.