Christopher Coles

Featured Leader: Christopher Coles

CHRISTOPHER COLES (He, Him, His) is a multi-hyphenated American Thinker, Master Sign Language interpreter, Artist, Community organizer, Abolitionist, Activist and Spoken word Poet. He is the author & essayist for the ITM chapbook for Dr. David Paul.

A Native son of Rochester, Christopher followed the footsteps of his grandmother, the Late Reverend Carrie Greggs as a Black leader and voice of the Rochester community. Under the name Bakari Poet, Christopher, as spoken word poet, created pieces like “Come alive” and “I love Black people”, as a battle cry for social and racial justice and community empowerment.

As an activist, Christopher also focuses on the roles of the ally, and created a social media blog space, The Black Socrates, a virtual space where allies and voices of color meet and discuss racial injustices, majority culture, and allyship engagement. Christopher has been writing since the age of six years old and continues to pen the engaging world.

Essayist: Catura Polland MA

CATYRA POLLAND MA is a modern-day Renaissance woman, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, editor, and international speaker. She founded Love for Words in 2017, an MWBE certified editing and copywriting company. Her freelance portfolio includes Pathstone, Causewave Community Partners, Mentors Inspiring Boys & Girls, the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF), and Independent Sector. Her work on the RACF’s State of Black Rochester Report demonstrates her ability to maintain individual author voices while creating a cohesive narrative. Recognizing a gap in exposure and appreciation for Black authors, CaTyra established National Black Authors Day in 2023. It’s celebrated annually on May 4th. She also founded the Literacy Love Scholarship for high school students in Rochester, NY. She is the mastermind behind the inaugural 2025 Editors Calendar and the magazine Write, Wine & Quarantine. CaTyra is an Urban League of Rochester Legacy Honoree, an ATHENA International Finalist, a Rochester Business Journal Elevating Women Honoree, a Rochester Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree, an ACES Richard S. Holden Fellow, and a National Point of Light Honoree.

Photographer: Dominique Alexandria Simmonds

DOMINIQUE ALEXANDRIA SIMMONDS is a creative, mother, and founder of Caribago Designs—where Afro-Caribbean culture and visual storytelling meet. Inspired by her roots and driven by a lifelong passion for art, Dominique specializes in brand authenticity blending design, photography, and textile work to help clients express their unique identities. She’s collaborated with brands across the globe—from the U.K. to the Caribbean, Ghana to Bali—while balancing life as a single mother and community builder. Known for her vibrant energy and deep sense of purpose, Dominique infuses love, culture, and joy into everything she does. Caribago (“CARRY-BAY-GO”) reflects her belief that the Caribbean is always moving forward—and so is she. Follow her journey and cultural docu-story via @CaribagoChronicles and @CaribagoDesigns.