Meet the Panelists

E Stanley Richardson is an American Poet, Actor, Playwright, and  Producer.

He is the Founder and Director of  ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc. “Bringing Poetry & People Together” and   the North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program

He is the author of the award-winning book of poetry, “Hip Hop is Dead – Long Live Hip Hop / The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Hip Hop Activism” (2017)

Mr. Richardson is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Alachua County, Florida. (2020 – 2022)

Dr. Tawny-Raquel Collins is a retired homeschool teacher and advocate for arts education. As a mother of professional musicians, she is fiercely passionate about the role artistic studies play in cultivating the whole child. Through her experiences homeschooling, Dr. Collins has found that an arts-centric education is the foundation on which every child can build the discipline, passion, and commitment needed to realize their innate and unlimited potential. Tawny-Raquel earned her Master of Education degree at the University of Florida with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction. She completed her Doctor of Education at Capella University with highest honors. Dr. Collins served as board chair for the Alachua County Youth Orchestra, and on the school advisory committee for Norton Elementary in Gainesville, Florida. She holds current board membership with the Gainesville Youth Chorus and Star Center Theatre.

Diane Archer-Banks is the founder, president, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Educational Access Institute, Inc.; a Florida-based nonprofit organization centered on increasing leadership development opportunities for youth, particularly those from low-income underserved communities. Toward this end, she uses the resources of her organization to create opportunities for youth globally to achieve their own levels of excellence and become future leaders.