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In honor of Earth Day 2023 (April 22), an all-star slate of poets illuminate through poetry the real impact of climate change, global warming, and the effects of environmental injustice on our world. The poets are John Curl, Stephanie JT Russell, and Megha Sood, with a joint presentation by Margaret Porter Troupe and Quincy Troupe.

Award-winning poet and biographer Quincy Troupe wrote the definitive biography of Miles Davis, Miles: The Autobiography, and a memoir, Miles & Me, soon to be a major motion picture. Author of 20 books, he also conducted the last interview with James Baldwin, republished most recently in English as James Baldwin: The Last Interview & Other Conversations (Melville House, 2014). He co-authored the best-selling biography The Pursuit of Happyness, the story of Chris Gardner that was made into a major motion picture starring Will Smith, and Earl the Pearl, the story of legendary NBA basketball player Earl Monroe. Troupe’s work has been translated into 30 languages. His most recent book of poetry is Duende, Poems 1966–Now (Seven Stories Press, January 2022).

Margaret Porter Troupe is a writer, editor, curator, and the Founding Director of The Gloster Arts Project, a multidisciplinary arts camp for youth without easy access to the arts, and the Harlem Arts Salon, a series of talks, book signings, performances, and exhibitions (established in the tradition of the salons of Harlem Renaissance) which provides a forum for artists, especially of African descent, to meet and commune with their audience.

John Curl is the author of twelve books of poetry, including Revolutionary Alchemy and Yoga Sutras of Fidel Castro, and has published in numerous anthologies and magazines. His translations of Inca, Maya, and Aztec poets are collected in Ancient American Poets. He is the author of two novels, The Outlaws of Maroon and The Co-op Conspiracy; his historical works include Indigenous Peoples Day and For All The People; Memories of Drop City is his memoir of the 1960s. He represented the USA at the World Poetry Festival in Venezuela. He is a member of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade of San Francisco and co-editor of their anthologies. Jack Hirschman wrote, “John Curl has earned a place among the foremost revolutionary American poets since the end of WW2.”  His latest poetry collection is Rainbow Weather, published by Vagabond Books (2022).

Stephanie JT Russell is a multidisciplinary artist, published author, editor, and educator. Her poetry and essays have appeared in journals such as MR/Metropolitan review, Xavier Review, Friends Journal, and Rabbit & Rose. She has been anthologized in Oakland Out Loud and Words Upon the Water (Jukebox Press). Her nine nonfiction books have been published by Andrews McMeel. Russell’s visual and performance works have been presented at venues such as the Albright Knox Museum, Hallwalls, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and the Ampex American Music Festival.

Megha Sood is a Pushcart Nominated Award-Winning poet, editor, author, and literary activist based in New Jersey, USA. She is an Associate Editor at MookyChick(UK), Life and Legends (USA), and Literary Partner in the project “Life in Quarantine'' with Stanford University, USA. Her works have been featured in journals, including Poetry Society of New York, New York Public Library zine, NPR, WNYC Studio, PBS American Portrait, American Writers Review, Stanford Daily, Kissing Dynamite, Rising Phoenix Review, and many more. She is the co-editor of anthologies (“The Medusa Project”, Mookychick) and (“The Kali Project, Indie Blu(e) Press).“The Medusa Project” has been selected as a digital payload to be sent to the moon in 2023 as part of the historical LunarCodex Project in collaboration with NASA/SpaceX. She is a recipient of Poet Fellowship 2021 MVICW (Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing), and 2020 National Level Winner Spring Mahogany Lit Prize, and is a three-time state-level winner of the NJ Poetry Contest. She is a recipient of a “Certificate of Excellence” from Mayor Stephen Fulop of Jersey City. New Jersey. She is a member of the United Nations Association - US Chapter (UNA-USA), National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW), and Women’s National Book Associations (WNBA).  Performing venues include New York Poetry Festival, Paterson Poetry Festival, Nuyorican Cafe, Hudson County Community College, Historic Apple Tree House, Newark Arts Festival, Panorama International Literary Festival, FEMINEN Turkey Arts Festival, and many more. Learn more on her blog.

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