Date: Tuesday, February 25

Time: 4th Hour

Kim Oclon

Kim Oclon is a former high school English teacher and GSA sponsor. Her first literary loves were a series of Care Bear books but she now considers The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien to be her favorite book. Kim studied at Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University. She is also an active member of SCBWI (The Society of Children Books Writers and Illustrators). Kim's debut young adult novel, Man Up, was released in April, 2020. Her YA historical fiction novel, The War On All Fronts, hit bookshelves in May, 2022. She lives in East Dundee with her husband, two kids, and a little white dog named Zero.

Date: Tuesday, February 25

Time: 5th Hour

Jim May

Jim May is an Emmy Award-winning storyteller and author. He has told his stories at schools, festivals , universities and conferences across the US and Europe. He is an inductee into the National Storytelling Network "Circle of Excellence," (Hall of Fame). His written story collections (The Farm on Nippersink Creek and Trail Guide for a Crooked Heart) have won "Best Book" awards from the American Public Librarian Assoc and the Westchester New York library foundation, respectively. 

His training venues have included the Texas Reading Association, The National Park Service, and Fortune 500 companies.

Date: Tuesday, February 25th

Time: 6th Hour

Bill Turner

Bill was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, the oldest of five children. He discovered a love for the arts early on. He became a theater kid, performed in plays, and sang in the choir. He continued to art school and became a designer of retail displays and environments. In his off time, Bill sculpts, designs, and build guitars using recycled and repurposed materials, and, write. He wrote and illustrated a rhyming narrative, Iggy and the Land Behind the  Sky for his daughter and have won two short story contests. He recently completed the Un2Trilogy, a trio of adult fantasy novels, he and has started a fourth.

Date: Wednesday, February 26th

Time: 4th Hour

Joe McMahon

Joe is a film director and editor. He wants the audience to lose themselves in his work. Every second of footage on his screen should help move the story forward. He has an intimate and spontaneous style that allows genuine moments to occur. Joe has an intimate and spontaneous style that allows genuine moments to occur. This allows real emotions to surface (bio courtesy of josephdanielmcmahon.com & josephmcmahon-director.com).

Date: Wednesday, February 26th

Time: 5th Hour

Nestor Gomez

Nestor "The Boss" Gomez was born in Guatemala and moved to Chicago undocumented in the mid-80's. He is a seventy-plus times Moth Slam winner, and 2022 National Storytelling Association Grand Slam winner. He is also the creator, producer, curator and host of 80 Minutes Around the World, a storytelling show that features the stories of immigrants their descendants and allies. 

Date: Wednesday, February 26th

Time: 6th Hour

Madison Paddock

Madison Paddock is a Senior Marketing Manager at Paramount, where she brings to life marketing campaigns for Paramount’s advertising partners across television, streaming, social media, and IRL, working with Paramount’s most popular franchises including CBS Sports, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, SpongeBob SquarePants, Yellowstone, The Jersey Shore, and more. Most recently, Madison was a part of bringing to life the Clio award-winning CBS Sports Creator Studio. Madison’s experience in the communications industry spans across marketing, advertising, and public relations. Madison is an alumna of Antioch Community High School (2016) and Syracuse University (2020), and she now resides in New York City.

Date: Thursday, February 27th

Time: 4th Hour

Jitesh Jaggi

Jitesh Jaggi is an immigrant storyteller from India and a five-time The Moth Story Slam winner. As a storytelling coach he has taught workshops for the World Health Organization and the University of Chicago among others. His stories were recently played on NPR’s The Moth Radio Hour and on WGN TV’s Day Time Chicago Show. He currently works as an Experiential Education Coach where he trains teachers on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and creates delightful experiences for Chicago’s South and West side high schoolers around the city. Jitesh’s one-man show “Suitcase Stories” played to a sold-out audience at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2023 and The Second City in 2024. Jitesh will be a keynote speaker at international educator’s conference- NAFSA in San Diego in March 2025.

Date: Thursday, February 29th

Time: 6th Hour

Tyler Fowler & Vik Pandya

Tyler Fowler is a nationally touring comedian who expertly weaves relatable anecdotes about marriages, kids and jobs - none of which he has - to create a show you won't want to miss. His debut album Friends With 401(k) Benefits premiered #1 on iTunes and Top 10 on the Billboard Comedy Charts and was followed by a 30 minute special with Drybar Comedy titled Little Spoon.

Vik Pandya is a nationally touring stand up comic based in Chicago. Known for his sharp self-deprecation, observational humor on dating, & hilarious crowd work, his comedy album 'Friends With 401(k) Benefits' debuted #1 on iTunes / Top 10 on the Billboard Charts and his Dry Bar Comedy special ‘No Refunds’ is now streaming!

Date: Friday, February 28th

Time: 4th Hour

Ur Mom

Ur Mom is a rock band from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Young, passionate, and progressive. Inspired by folk, funk, rock, & blues. Ur Mom is eager to bring back the vitality of raw energy in the studio, & onstage.

Date: Friday, February 28th

Time: 6th Hour

Mondo Cortez

Since he formed his band in 1999, Chicago guitarist, singer & band leader Mondo Cortez has always surrounded himself with great players and has stuffed his sets with great House Rockin’ Blues. For example - just listen to phenom Bri Backman on drums in his current line-up. Her influence is a big part of his new record, “Call on Me,” and is mesmerizing on the kit at their live shows. Mondo Cortez & The Chicago Blues Angels can be found filling dance floors at club dates around the Midwest regularly and have been featured at festivals across the US and Europe.