J Mase III is a Black/Trans/queer poet & educator based in Seattle by way of Philly. As an educator, Mase has worked with community members in the US, UK, and Canada on the needs of LGBTQIA+ folks and racial justice in spaces such as K-12 schools, universities, faith communities and restricted care facilities. He is founder of awQward, the first trans and queer people of color talent agency. He was raised by a Baptist Mother and Nation of Islam father. J Mase is author of And Then I Got Fired: One Transqueer’s Reflections on Grief, Unemployment & Inappropriate Jokes About Death as well as White Folks Be Trippin’: An Ethnography Through Poetry & Prose. As a performer, he has shared stages with world renowned artists like Chuck D, Billy Porter, MJ Rodriguez and the Indigo Girls. His work and musings have been featured on MSNBC, NBC OUT, Essence Live, Atlanta Black Star, GO Magazine, Believe Out Loud, Everyday Feminism, Black Girl Dangerous, Upworthy, the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Blavity, the Root, the Huffington Post and more. Currently, he is head writer for the theatrical production Black Bois and is co-editor of the Black Trans Prayer Book alongside Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. Find him on Instagram (@jmaseiii) and www.jmaseiii.com!