Justen Ahren’s second collection of poetry, A Machine for Remembering was released by Shanti Arts Press in January 2019 along with black and white photographs from him multi-year project volunteering with refugees and following Europe’s refugee routes. His album, After the War for the Valley, a collection of poetry and songs inspired by refugees’ stories, was also recently released digitally. Justen is Martha’s Vineyard Poet Laureate and founder of the Italy Writing Retreat.

Lee has been a year-round resident of Martha's Vineyard for over 45 years. Poet, master carpenter, sculptor and guitar-maker; co-founder of The Savage Poets of Martha's Vineyard, he has written poetry for 59 years. He was the first Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate in the history of the Island, selected in 2012 by ten judges representing the Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society. He has engaged in poetry studies with Howard Nemerov; Galway Kinnell; Sharon Olds; Charles Simic; Robert Pinsky; Thomas Lux; and George Mills.

Georgia Morris is a writer of poems, plays, fiction and documentary films. Thirty years ago she moved to the Vineyard as a partner in Galen Films with her husband, Len, written plays and fiction, raised their two kids, Sam and Lily, co-founded the 4 th Grade Theater Project with MJ at the Playhouse and has always kept her secret life of poetry brewing.

Claudia Taylor grew up in West Tisbury, and has been writing poetry from a young age. In 2012 and 2013, Claudia was one of the commended poets in the international Foyle Young Poets Award. She is in her final year of an undergraduate degree in English and education at the University of York in England. She is thankful to be part of such a vibrant and supportive arts community on the Vineyard.