Meet the team
Ryan Parker Co-Song Artist Co-Book Author
Ryan Parker's mission is to disrupt oppressive legacy embedded in educational spaces and to influence and empower educators and youth to also engage in the disruption. Parker’s career in over 19 years of teaching has been dedicated towards challenging United States education norms, reimagining what school looks, sounds and feels like and applying that reimagination to his own pedagogy while influencing and supporting other educators to do the same. A youth empowerment activist and district Race & Equity Coordinator who presents regularly at education conferences and various schools and universities abroad, Parker’s work focuses on race in education, the power of hip-hop pedagogy and the necessity of centering black and brown youth amplifying their lived experiences, voices and brilliance! As the 2019-2022 Poet Laureate of Manchester, CT and the coach of the Manchester-based youth spoken word poetry slam team PaperVoices, Parker's work as a poet, educator and activist extends outside of the walls of his school building. In addition to his work as an educator, Parker is a hip-hop artist, author, husband, father, brother, mama’s boy, chocolate chip cookie lover and was named as one of the 2020 Peace Heroes of Connecticut.
Justis Lopez Co-Song Artist Co-Book Author
Justis Lopez is an educator, DJ, poet, activist, son, and brother raised in Manchester, CT. He is the founder & Chief Enthusiasm Officer (CEO) of Just Experience LLC, a start-up company that strives to educate, entertain, and empower communities worldwide. As an educator and community organizer, he is passionate about creating spaces of radical joy, justice, & possibility through various art forms and authentic human connection. His focus spans on supporting educators and college access professionals in and outside of the K-12 and Higher Education classrooms, along with focusing on supporting national efforts for students a part of the federal TRIO programs. He has served as a middle school and high school social studies teacher, adjunct professor, and consultant serving various school districts across the country, focusing on culture, climate, and equity. When Justis is not teaching, he can be found DJing or dancing down the street. He enjoys hiking, funfetti cupcakes, and long walks on the beach. Much like his partner-in-positivity Parker, Justis Lopez is interested in creating various literary forms that lean into uplifting humanity at large in the name of justice.
Sierra Chanterelle Book Illustrator
Siara is a Manchester, CT based visual artist, poet, activist, and 2020 graduate of Manchester High School. She will be studying English and Art in college and intends to pursue a career that combines her passions for creative expression and social justice in order to affect societal change.
Dr. Melissa Sue-John Publisher
Dr. Sue -John is and educator, professor, and chief executive officer of Lauren Simone Publishing (LSP) House. LSP House was founded in 2016, and is a publishing company in Hartford, Connecticut. The publishing house was birthed by two sisters, Olivia Lauren John and Alyssa Simone John who enjoy the arts. They act, model, draw, paint, play musical instruments, and most recently started to publish books. Together with the help of their mom, Dr. Sue John, they created the Olivia Lauren book series. They wanted to expose young readers to the things that they had experienced, as well as create a platform for other authors and artists to share their talent and diversity.