Our Staff

Diane Luby Lane

Executive Director/Founder

'Hey, Poetry Lady!'… is how she's often addressed by the hundreds of LAUSD high school students she works with each year through the non-profit program she founded in 2005, Get Lit-Words Ignite. Get Lit - Words Ignite evolved from her critically acclaimed one woman show, Deep Sea diving, which tells the story of how books saved her life. Deep Sea Diving (AKA Born Feet First) now tours in high schools and colleges across the South West, and has opened for poet, Jimmy Santiago Baca. Diane is also the published author of Words of Women, a monologue book for women that is sold internationally and has had theatrical releases in both New York and Los Angeles. She is a 2007 recipient of the prestigious James Patterson, Pageturner Award for individuals who find creative ways to promote literacy and is a KNX 1070 Hero of the Week. She makes her living as a commercial actress in Los Angeles where she lives with her husband and two children. www.dianelubylane.com

Carol Muske-Dukes

Director of Magic Poetry Bus

Carol Muske-Dukes is author of seven books of poetry, most recently Sparrow, a National Book Award finalist published by Random House, 2003. Her other books of poetry are An Octave Above Thunder, New & Selected Poems, Penguin, 1997. Her three novels are Life After Death, Random House (2001), Saving St. Germ, Penguin (1993) and Dear Digby, Viking (1989). She is a regular critic for the New York Times Book Review and the LA Times Book Review. Her work appears everywhere from the New Yorker to L.A. Magazine and she is anthologized widely, including in Best American Poems, 100 Great Poems by Women and many others. She is professor of English and Creative Writing and founding Director of the new PhD Program in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California. She has received many awards and honors, including a Guggenheim fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, an Ingram-Merrill, the Witter Bynner award from the Library of Congress, the Castagnola award from the Poetry Society of America and several Pushcart Prizes. On November 13, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Carol as California's poet laureate. www.carolmuskedukes.com

Azure Antoinette

Artistic Director

Described as an "emerging talent" in the poetry scene, Azure Antoinette is a multimedia artist. She is an accomplished performance poet, singer and freelance photographer. She has simply stated that her 'passion lies in the arts, all of them'. Antoinette is currently living her dreams daily while working with Get Lit - Words Ignite, as their Artistic Director. She has described the program as 'her life's work.' Currently Azure is eagerly awaiting the release of her first book, titled 'Bittersweet' (Verbiage Press). She has performed at various venues throughout Southern and Northern California that include but are not limited to: Nike, USC, Los Angeles art galleries, Mayoral commemorations and countless features at poetry open mics. Antoinette will be performing excerpts from her upcoming book in Denver, Minneapolis, and New York in the summer of 2008. She is the 2007 winner of the 'Be the Change - Spoken Word Contest' and hopes to continue to leave a mork of peace through her poetry. www.azureantoinette.com

Kim Moreno

Program Intern/Site Administrator

Kim Moreno is an artist, published poet and the newest addition to the Get Lit staff. She has an inherent passion for prose and self expression and said that 'I have found what I have been looking for' the first time she joined the Get Lit team. Kim comes to Get Lit with three years experience in the online networking scene and of course an enormous love and passion for poetry and literacy. Kim has been writing since she can remember and just recently started performing at local open mics and a few events with the Get Lit Players. Her future is bright and we are happy to have her on out team!

Mike Sonksen

Mentor/Resident Journalist

Mike Sonksen, also known as, Mike the Poet, is widely acclaimed for his live performances, contributions to international publications & legendary city tours. Poet, journalist, historian, tour guide, teacher, he's published in the L.A. Citybeat, O.C. Weekly, New Angeles, L.A. Weekly & many others. This 3rd generation L.A. native graduated from U.C.L.A. in 1997. His book I AM ALIVE IN LOS ANGeLES! has been added to the curriculum of several universities & received rave reviews.