Two emerging leaders, Tannur Ali, a poet performer, social artist and founder of iLOGIC in her Georgia neighborhood, and Antonio Gutierrez, a housing activist from Chicago, will be speaking at the 25th Annual Meeting of Lopez Community Land Trust, Monday, March 23 at 7 p.m.

Ali leaves audiences spellbound with her poetry performances. Living in the projects of one of America’s poorest communities, Albany, Ga., Ali brings her insights to us on Lopez Island. At the age of 14, she self-published a chapbook entitlted “Rhymin’ with Reason.” As the founder of iLOGIC (Institute for the Love of Genius in Communities), she lives her life as a public servant, providing workshop, events, classes and spaces where people can “Get unPlugged and find themselves plugged in.” She has been a winner of the Judith Stark Creative Writing Award and herself created the Pen Stroke National Poetry Festival. She is the mother of three children.

Antonio Gutierrez was born in Guadalajara Mexico. He received a full scholarship to the Illinois Institute of Technology where he received a degree in architecture.

“My family almost went through a foreclosure on our home a few years back. I know how the working-class view homes as their American Dream, but that dream can be easily broken and taken away,” he said. “The working-class live paycheck to paycheck and having savings for life’s situations is not really an option. I believe in human rights and that’s why I do the work I do.”

Gutierrez is the housing coordinator for Centro in Chicago.

These are both gifted leaders who link us to other parts of the country. Everyone is welcome, and LCLT encourages all ages to attend. The evening will feature a dessert auction and election of a new board member, Maija Wilder.

For further information, LCLT can be reached at 468-3723 or lclt@rockisland.com.