Zaraawar Mistry, Theatre, Storytelling, Solo Performance
Born in India, Zaraawar Mistry has been a theater artist and consultant in the Twin Cities for over fifteen years. He and his wife, Leslye Orr, currently own and operate Dreamland Arts, a 40-seat theater attached to their home in St. Paul. Earlier they co-founded the Center for Independent Artists in Minneapolis, where Zaraawar served as a consultant and mentor to artists working in various disciplines. He is a writer, actor, director, storyteller and the creator of several original theatrical works. He has worked at the Guthrie, Children’s Theater Company, Mixed Blood, Theater Mu, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater and also worked as a community programs coordinator at the Walker Art Center. Zaraawar has an M.F.A. in Theatre from UC, San Diego and a B.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. He has received multiple grants from the Jerome Foundation, Playwrights' Center and the Minnesota State Arts Board. In 2007, he was an Adjunct Professor at Hamline University.

David Unowsky, Writing & Publishing
For 34 years, David Unowsky owned and ran Hungry Mind, (later known as Ruminator) one of America's great bookstores which also fostered a literary magazine and a publishing company. He is currently the events manager at Magers and Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. David was a regular columnist for Bookselling This Week and wrote occasional pieces in Ruminator Review, book reviews for USA Today, and is currently writing for mnartists.org. At Hungry Mind, he helped to build the national author tour market; pioneered in forging relationships and co-sponsorships with other businesses, non-profits, and libraries: and dabbled in multi-media events (music, art, film) with readings.

Katie Ka Vang, Performance, Writing
Katie Ka Vang is a performance artist, writer and diaspora rocker. She has received grants for her work from Jerome Foundation and Minnesota State Arts Board. She has been seen on stages around the Twin Cities and nationally. Her chapbook Never Said is currently available for purchase and her work can be seen in publications such as St. Paul Almanac, Bakka Mag., and Asian American Press. She has an education in Innovation and Marketing Management from Concordia University- St. Paul and has done marketing and promoting for Pangea World Theater, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, Pillsbury House Theater and other political and grassroots initiatives. She is also a part of the Young Emerging Leaders of Color, a national initiative created by Theater Communications Group, (American Theatre Magazine) focused on identifying faces of performance and creating action plans to connect to the greater community. Katie is the Director of Artist Service and Membership for the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent and is available to meet with artists at Springboard or CHAT.