Dr. Kahlil Almustafa Gasper is a community-engaged Spoken Word Poet and arts education leader whose work bridges artistic practice, youth development, and cross-sector partnerships. For more than two decades, he has used poetry as a tool for expression, community-building, education, and civic dialogue through performances, school-based residencies, and community cultural production. He is the author of two collections of poetry, Growing Up Hip-Hop (2008) and From Auction Block to Oval Office: 100 poems in the first 100 poems of Obama’s presidency (2010), as well as his debut album, CounterIntelligence (2006).
Professionally, Kahlil has led equity-centered initiatives across public systems and philanthropic intermediaries across Los Angeles County, including roles at Community Partners, the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, and as Interim Executive Director at Street Poets.
