Carlton Powell is a health-conscious democrat, who interprets the threat to water, land and air health as a threat to physical, mental, and social health. His respect for sovereignty and of everyone’s right to exist freely and peacefully motivate his work in education, where for the last decade he has sought to raise consciousness and stimulate positive change via the promotion of deep inquiry, determined literary analysis and careful self-expression. He is a native New Orleanian, currently teaching writing at Xavier University of Louisiana.