Current President of the Community College of Aurora (CCA), Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee is nationally and locally recognized for his leadership, innovation, and partnerships in promoting and creating access, opportunity, and transformation for every learner while shaping the future of higher education. As President of CCA, Dr. Brownlee has guided the college through historic growth and transformation; during his tenure, CCA has seen improved enrollment and completion rates and a decrease in withdrawals and course repeats. He's also overseen the opening of CCA's third campus--the Center for Health Sciences and First Responders--in Centennial, along with the construction and opening of the Center for STEM, Power Mechanics, and Applied Technologies (CAST) building on the CentreTech Campus. Beyond CCA's walls, Dr. Brownlee has been named a NASPA Pillar of the Profession, Aurora Chamber “Man of the Year,” Urban Leadership Foundation “Trailblazer,” and U.S. Department of Education “Champion” of the Unlocking Career Success Initiative.
Michael Levell was born and raised in Southern Indiana where he began his interests in poetry. With a short stint in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the host at several venues for poetry readings including the Gypsy Coffee House. He received his Master of Fine Arts at Naropa University from Jack Kerouac’s College of Disembodied Poetics. He has taught writing and literature at the Community College of Aurora for 18 years. His work has appeared in: Bombay Gin, Found Poetry Review, shampoopoetry.com, pinstripefedora.com, Kilgore Quarterly, Pulse 29, and Birdy among others. He also has a chapbook, Green River Road, published by Finishing Line Press.
Panama Soweto (JC Futrell) is a National Poetry Slam Champion, arts executive, and culture worker who’s toured over 300 colleges as a spoken word artist. Represented by Metropolis Management, his work has been featured at the DNC nomination of President Barack Obama, in President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, and across classrooms worldwide. JC is Vice Chair of the Denver Center for African Art and founder of RealArtLife, where he leads creative campaigns blending art, media, and community. His leadership at the Denver Art Museum helped elevate youth programming and secure space for emerging artists.
JC continues to use his voice, platform, and leadership to amplify the stories, struggles, and brilliance of African and African American communities—pushing boundaries and building bridges through art.