Team Bios

 TINA 'MS. JAZZI' NIXON

• Over 25 years of experience empowering youth and young adults to celebrate life, achieve dreams, cultivate self-love, and develop self-respect.
• Accomplished poet, actress, spoken word artist, and mentor.
• Produced and authored multiple CDs and written works.
• Founder of My Sista’s KeepHer, dedicated to healing and empowering women and youth.
• Author a journey to Heal self and Heal her 
• Recognized with numerous awards, including:
  • YWCASEW Impact Award (2022)
  • Milwaukee Treasure Award (2021)
  • Trendsetters Award (2023)
  • Shero Award by Milwaukee Rep (2020)
  • Arts @ Large Residency (2019 & 2020)
  • Neighborhood Creatives in Residence (2019)

• Leads the organization’s mission to foster community healing and empowerment through workshops, events, and artistic initiatives.
• Designs and facilitates workshops addressing trauma recovery, self-expression, confidence building, and community connectedness.

• Designed outreach programs targeting families of youth in the justice system, fostering community engagement and support.

• Supported youth impacted by trauma, teaching critical life skills like healthy communication, coping mechanisms, and recreation.

• Mentored high school youth, providing life skills training, case management, and safety support for schools.

• Guided expectant mothers to ensure healthy pregnancies and provided resources for employment, education, and childcare.

• Dream Big Spa Day: Inspires young women to embark on journeys of self-discovery through pampering and guided workshops.
• Self-Esteem Poetry Workshops: Uses poetry as a tool for healing and self-expression, reaching hundreds of youth.
• Flood the Hood with Dreams Poetry Workshops: Taught spoken word, storytelling, and stage performance skills.
• Sister Pride Workshops: Empowered high school girls to express themselves through poetry and real-life storytelling.

• MATC Graduation (2024)
• Running Rebels Dream Keepers Camp (2017)
• Transition High School Commencement (2017)
• Malakai Learning Center – Muffins for Moms (2015–2017)
• Women B Whole Conference (Houston, TX) (2016)
• Western University Beyond Beauty Conference

• Paul Robeson High School – Chicago, IL (1983)
• Acting Intensive Training – Gately/Poole Conservatory (Ongoing since 2017)
• Certified in Trauma-Informed Practices, Political Organizing, and Mentorship through various institutions.

References Provided Upon Request

SHELLY CONLEY-MILWAUKEE POET LAUREATE 2025-2026

• 2025-2026 Milwaukee Poet Laureate
• Poet, spoken word artist with over 20 years of local and national experience
• Eight-time member of the Still Waters Collective’s Milwaukee National Poetry Slam Team (NPS)
• Three-time Grand Slam Champion of the Milwaukee NPS Team
• 2007 Milwaukee representative for Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS) 
• Winner of the Kentucky Women’s Writing Conference Slam
• Creator and author of two music projects 
• Author of one chapbook, one autobiography and co-author of one journaling workbook
• Guest poet on several national recording artists’ projects 
• Featured in, Emmy Award Winner, Brad Pruitt's documentary Mark My Words 
• Over 30 years of facilitating workshops and trainings in both professional and creative spaces
• 20+ years mentoring experience

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Artistic work has included but is not limited to:

                                              2025-2026 Milwaukee Poet Laureate

• 2014-present Program Director for My Sista’s KeepHer includes creating programming, building relationships with youth and parents, facilitating workshops, administrative tasks, managing social media, etc. 
• 2014-present: Facilitating My Sista’s KeepHer workshops in 20+ Milwaukee Public Middle Schools and High Schools, with many recurring contracts.
• 2014-present: Facilitating My Sista’s KeepHer workshops in Wauwatosa, Racine, and Madison School Districts, as well as Women’s and Juvenile Justice facilities, and various private, Christian, and charter schools.
• 2014-present Facilitating My Sista’s KeepHer workshops for community organizations and higher learning institutions, including organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, End Domestic Abuse Teen Summit, UWM, Center for Self-Sufficiency, and Mentor Greater Milwaukee.
• 2011 Recipient of The Power Of Voice Award (Poetry Unplugged)
• 2006-present Mentoring young girls aged 7 and up through Community Advocates and My Sista’s KeepHer.
• 2004-present Featured spoken word artist at various Milwaukee festivals such as Bronzeville Days, Garfield Days, African World Festival, Poetry Unplugged events, Summerfest, etc.
• 2023 Recipient of the Sisterhood Award at Trendsetters Ball 
• 2021 Recipient of MKE Treasures Award (Saved And The City)
• 2016 Facilitated My Sista’s KeepHer workshop for Wisconsin Social Workers Conference (Co-facilitated with Flood the Hood with Dreams). 
• 2015 Collaboration between My Sista’s KeepHer and UWM Africology Department, creating and executing a Teen Summit hosting over 100 youth.
• 2002-2013 Facilitated workshops for Flood the Hood With Dreams for youth and young adults at various schools, including Transition HS, Neu-Life, Running Rebels, UW-Whitewater, and UW-Platteville.
• 2006 Facilitated poetry/free verse writing workshop for UWM upward bound students

for My Window Production.

• Messmer HS
• Certified in Trauma-Informed Practices and Mentorship through various institutions.

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Kashunda Brown

Highlights

• 10 years of experience in supervising and  mentoring youth
• Creator and Facilitator of The Good, Bad and Ugly Social Media Workshop
• Owner of Oh So Kay Sweets
• Contributor for My Sista's KeepHer workbook A JOURNEY TO HEAL SELF HEAL HER 2020

Professional Experience

2010 - Present

Student Coordinator for My SIsta's KeepHer

Workshops  Co-facilitator: The Workshop focuses on recovering from the effects of trauma, learning healthy ways of expressing feelings, self-confidence building, Team Building, learning the importance of family and community in healing, and discovering your own uniqueness.  Most importantly this project will promote relationship-building between girls and create a safe environment where they can practice treating others with kindness and respect.

• Chief Operating Officer of Dream Keepers
• Supervisor of Violence Free Zone/ Running Rebels
• Youth Advisor- Violence Free Zone/ Running Rebels
• Data Entry/ Mentor - Boys Girls Club
• Mentor- House of Love

Education/ Professional Training 

• Custer HS graduate 2006
• Milwaukee Area Technical College- Human Services
• Youth Mental Health First Aide Certificate
• First Aid/ CPR
• Community Building Workshop/ Training
• Trauma Informed Training