Josh Healey, Program Director

A poet, educator, organizer, and journalist, Josh Healey is a connector of words and people. As a teen, Healey electrified the spoken word scene in his hometown of Washington, DC with his poetic mix of politics, storytelling, and humor. Since moving to Madison, Wisconsin in 2002, he has become one of the leading spoken word artists and activists in the Midwest, organizing and participating in the Madison Poetry Slam, the Hip Hop as a Movement conference, and the Line Breaks Spoken Word Showcase. Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2005, Healey has worked with the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives to develop spoken word and hip hop programs in the Madison public schools, the UW campus, and the community. A member of the Last Minute Poets, Healey published his first collection of poems, These Streets at Sunrise, in 2005. Two-time coach of the Madison youth slam team, he is a member of Madison’s 2007 National Poetry Slam team.