Date: Tuesday, February 24

Time: 4th Hour

Malcolm Newsome

Malcolm Newsome is a traditionally published children's book author and cyber security expert from the Chicago area. He is the author of beloved children's picture books including, Dear Star Baby, Sydney's Big Speech, I Am The Spirit of Justice (co-author), and The Daddy-Daughter Dance. When he’s not writing or spending time with family, you’ll probably find him either reading, spending time outside in his mini-orchard, baking bread, or being a lumberjack.

Date: Tuesday, February 24

Time: 5th Hour

Angelique Burrell

Angelique Burrell is a writer and author of A Mark in the Road, which won the 2023 Illinois Author Project “Soon to be Famous” award and is a 2025 Kindle Book Review “Best of Indie” young adult semifinalist. For over 30 years, Angelique taught high school English, including creative writing, in a suburb of Chicago, bringing her love of reading and writing to high school students. Currently, she is a full-time writer and part-time procrastinator. 

Date: Tuesday, February 24

Time: 6th Hour

Beth Kander

Beth Kander is a USA Today best-selling author and longtime playwright with tangled

roots in the Midwest and Deep South. Her novel I Made It Out Of Clay debuted in 2024

to critical acclaim; she is also author of the popular children’s picture book Do Not Eat

This Book! A Dramatists Guild Foundation National Fellow (2024-2025), Beth has had

more than 100 productions of her work worldwide, and will have two new plays

premiering in 2026. Her work has appeared in Oprah Daily, Writer’s Digest, Slackjaw,

Frazzled, American Theatre, and elsewhere. Beth teaches in the MFA Creative Writing program at Mississippi University for Women but lives in Chicago with her favorite

characters: her husband, two kids, and giant rescue dog. 

Date: Wednesday, February 25

Time: 4th Hour

Madison Paddock

Madison Paddock is an Integrated Marketing professional whose career in the media industry spans across tech, social media, television, and film. Currently, Madison is a Partnerships Manager at LinkedIn, spearheading first-of-their-kind marketing opportunities for brands on LinkedIn. In her role, Madison partners with Fortune 500 companies to create marketing campaigns that drive business results, bolster brands both on and off LinkedIn, and create economic opportunity for LinkedIn’s 1.3 billion members. Previously, Madison worked at Paramount, where she brought to life marketing campaigns for Paramount’s advertising partners across platforms and worked with popular IP like CBS Sports, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, SpongeBob Squarepants, and more. A non-traditional storyteller, her experience in the communications realm bridges PR, marketing, advertising, and beyond. Madison is an alumna of Antioch Community High School (2016) and Syracuse University (2020), and she now resides in New York City.

Date: Wednesday, February 25

Time: 5th Hour

Niem Lyon

An Artist of Humor with style to match, Niem Lyon is a young, talented comedic artist, who got his start on stage working at the Washington, D.C Comedy Circuit, progressed to larger venues and comedy clubs throughout the country and overseas. He opened for international headliners with the likes of Jimmy "JJ" Walker, Rondell Sheridan, Michael Winslow, and Tony Rock, as well as opening for nationally touring music acts. Niem Lyon has a refreshing take on life, pinpointing what all people can relate to, and bringing humor and imagination. A decade-plus of experience bringing about smiles and laughter indicates the ascension of a shooting star.

Date: Wednesday, February 25

Time: 6th Hour

Deanna Cruz

Deanna Cruz is a strategic communications leader and multidisciplinary creative professional whose work bridges creativity, leadership, and community impact across higher education, healthcare, financial services, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors. She brings a rare blend of creative vision, business insight, and people-centered leadership—developing and implementing strategies, policies, and programs that drive growth, engagement, and meaningful connection through strategic communication, marketing, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.

Date: Thursday, February 26

Time: 4th Hour

Denise Medina

Denise Medina is a graduate of the Players Workshop of the Second City (improv), The Maxwell Method of Stand-Up Comedy, Feminine Comique (stand-up), Stand-Up Comedy Workshops with Dave Schwensen (An Evening At The Improv) and Eddie Brill (Late Show with David Letterman). Denise is the creator and host of eQUIPS! a lexicon comedy game show featuring stand-up comedians and co-producer of Monday Night Funnies, a biweekly ZOOM Show created in 2020 with thirty episodes featuring one hundred and three comedians! She has performed in Roast Battle in Los Angeles, Battle of the Blonds (co-headliner and co-producer), and various venues and comedy clubs such as The Comedy Store, Chicago Improv, Laugh Factory, Zanies, The Comedy Shrine, The Kenosha Comedy Club, The Comedy Bar, Up Comedy Club, The Vixen, The Second City, IO and The Annoyance and in showcases, fundraisers, corporate events and more!

Date: Thursday, February 26

Time: 5th Hour

James Gordon

James Gordon hails from the Southside of Chicago, affectionately known as Gotham City. He taught 7th grade Language Arts for two decades in the Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147. James is now an international award winning author and poet, champion storyteller,  and acclaimed actor. He has mastered what is called the "Drop" technique in Storytelling. 

Date: Thursday, February 26

Time: 6th Hour

Honk!

Honk! is a group of Chicago's most seasoned performers who believe that the best work is done when you let your silly goose loose. Founded in 2025 by Simon Collier, Honk! aims to bring a gaggle of giggles to everyone in the room. Our improv is a mixture of short-form games and long-form scene work. All of which is done in the spirit of play and fun above all else.