Spit Dat in Residence

Jessica is, as she likes to say, “Brooklyn born and bred but DMV seen and sown into”. For the past year and a half, she’s stood behind the mic painting pictures with words to help honor the experiences of Black women, social justice, and her own personal growth and healing. Her poems center on vulnerability and authenticity, and some even refer to her as “the hope dealer”. She’s had the opportunity to share her work and feature in various settings in the DMV and other major cities, like Philly. When she’s not writing these poems, Jessica is writing and publishing personal essays in online literary magazines. She cites community as one of the best parts about being a poet. By day, she’s using her words to heal others as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (aka “Doc”). By midday, she’s being healed with words from J. Cole and Cleo Sol blasting through her headphones. And by night…you can find her shining as a poet! Her artist name, Just Jess, is born from the reality that when it’s all said and done and the day ends, she returns to herself as as, truly, Just Jess.

Richmond, Virginia native, Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is the city’s inaugural poet laureate. He is a published author, spoken-word artist, comedian, educator, and father who has dedicated his craft to entertaining and educating. Douglas prides himself on using his creativity to inspire, challenge, and destigmatize. No topic is taboo. From social justice to mental health, Roscoe Burnems uses every performance to highlight culture and resiliency in a way that is disarming and engaging. In his time as an artist, he has been a three-time southern regional finalist, National Poetry Slam Champion, and two-time Underground Poetry Slam Champion. His work has spanned across platforms, from TEDx to hosting VPM’s Emmy nominated “Art Scene” and two-time Telly Award winning series “In the Pen with Roscoe Burnems”. For over a decade he has been the Executive Director of The Writer’s Den RVA Art Collective, a poetry-based arts, education, and entertainment organization that curates events and facilitates writing, performance, and team building workshops for schools, detention centers, and other organizations. He is the author of four published works: “Fighting Demons”, “Chrysalis Under Fire”, “God, Love, Death and Other Synonyms”, and “defyne”. Selected poems from Roscoe have also been published in over a dozen literary magazines and journals, including: Freeze Ray Magazine, Flypaper Magazine, Scene & Heard Journal, Into Quarterly, Beltway Quarterly, and Rise Up Review. He was recently named Best Poet in Richmond by Style Weekly. His poetry and stand-up comedy special, “Traumedy” can be found on Amazon Prime

A science teacher turned teaching artist, poet/parodist turned playwright, and marathon runner turned motivational speaker, Drew Anderson is founder and co-host of Spit Dat (the longest-running open mic in the nation’s capital) and co-creator of the critically-acclaimed stage productions Midiculous (coming to Keegan Theatre in February 2026, Push The Button, and From Gumbo to Mumbo (nominated for the 2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences, winner of “Best Of” at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival). A nationally-credentialed teaching artist and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow, Drew has merged his passions for entertainment and education into such arts integration initiatives as Spoof School and C.R.U.N.K. Academy, bringing his unique spin on hip hop, comedy, parody, drama and poetry to stages virtual and physical, local and international.

Miko Reed is a native Washingtonian and Army Veteran. As founder of Have A Voice, LLC, she curates events and gives a platform to give voice to all, especially marginalized communities. She completed her Executive Masters in Leadership from Georgetown University in 2019 and her book, Eggshells In Soft Black Hands, was an Amazon bestseller in August, 2021. She is an author of a book of fiction and a contributing editor to several publications and books.