Join us on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM for our May Watershed Reading: Lifting the Veil on Incarceration. This special event was curated by Team 1 of ALL's LAB4 Community Curators. Readers and panelists include Keena Atkinson, KV Severallevels, and Justin Festge Russell. This two-hour event will be hosted by LAB4 Curator and local poet Deshawn McKinney.
May Watershed Reading
Keena Atkinson, the visionary founder and CEO of R'oujie Wellness, is a versatile wellness professional specializing as a nutritionist, wellness coach, dance fitness instructor, and a 500hr trauma Informed social justice yoga instructor with an Ayurveda perspective. With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UW Madison, Keena has journeyed from homelessness to homeowner. She was a 15 year old teen mom, who gave birth while in the foster care system. As a domestic violence survivor Keena raises her two sons intentionally.
Keena is the creator and host of the R'oujie Wellness RetreatTM, she also created and hosts a the Monthly R'oujie Wellness Book Club, Action Academy for EntreprenoirsTM, Money Meet MondayTM which is a wealth building mentorship community for Black single mothers in business and also leads a powerful life transformation program for women who have experienced domestic violence. As a multifamily property owner, Keena provides safe and quality housing to over a... Read More
KV Severallevels is not only Milwaukee’s sharpest lyricist but also a poet whose words carry the weight of experience and transformation. Born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee from the age of 8, he began writing poetry in 2007 while incarcerated, drawing early inspiration from the works of Asha Bandele and Rudy Bankston. His poetry became both a creative outlet and a means of survival, eventually leading to publication in a respected prison anthology.
Today, KV Severallevels continues to share his poetry at open mic nights across the city, bridging the worlds of spoken word and hip-hop. His upcoming poetry collection, Mandatory Release, reflects the complexities of freedom, struggle, and personal growth. Many of these poetic works also appear on his forthcoming rap album, Work Release, blending Midwest flow with East Coast and Southern influences. As a member of the Freedom Gang rap collective and frequent host of the 414 Video Spotlight Show, KV Severallevels stands as a... Read More
Justin Festge Russell (stage name Jexizis) is a local artist, specializing in hip-hop, poetry, and creative production. A student and Hip-Hop & Urban Arts Scholar at UW–Madison, he is a member of First Wave. He is pursuing a degree in education and education administration, so he can better position himself to impact the lives of our youth—whom he believes hold the key to a better society.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Arts + Literature Laboratory is located at 111 S. Livingston Street #100, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703.
Our galleries are open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday noon to 5pm, and other programs take place throughout the week. Please check the events calendar and education section for details.