Lyrical Sanctuary

Brit Nicole is a Milwaukee-based spoken word artist, community healer, musician, and facilitator. Brit hosts Lyrical Sanctuary at UWM and has performed at venues from Poetry Unplugged, the Marcus Center, and Br(OK)en Genius. A teaching artist with the Milwaukee Opera Theatre since 2023, she centers healing, creativity, and reflection in her work. Brit is the 2022 Shepherd Express “Best Local Author” and the creator of book: Moods, Melanin, and Magic: Manifesto, the album, Nocturnal Butterfly, and the short film Soulmate. 

DJ Bizzon is an award-winning, nationally recognized DJ known for his original edits, hands-on turntablism, and unmatched versatility. From festivals and concerts to clubs, rallies and branded events, every set is a unique musical journey — authentic, unforgettable, and unmistakably Bizzon.

An artist known for his murals, Ras Ammar Nsoroma was born Kevin Wayne Tate on June 20, 1967 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When he was only a teenager, Nsoroma became aware of the work of Reynaldo Hernandez, an inner-city mural artist, which inspired him. Nsoroma graduated from the Milwaukee High School of the Arts in 1985 and attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Nsoroma completing his first mural as a senior in high school.

John Contreras is a Milwaukee-based typewriter poet and Sociocultural Programming Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His poetry blends nature and abstract thought in stream-of-consciousness style. A proud nerd, he’s into cats, video games, and manga. John holds a BA in English Literature from Roosevelt University and an MS in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University.

Safia Ali is a Milwaukee based artist and poet who been working with sociocultural programming since 2024. She study’s Animation and Studio Arts with a focus on painting and drawing at UWM. Previously she has been a Student Feature for Lyrical Sanctuary and enjoys creating art, no matter the medium.