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Ray Ramirez (vocals, congas) - Ray is a third generation Puerto Rican, born in El Barrio, New York.  He is the cofounder of the Welfare Poets and has worked as an educator in various Comminuty-based centers.  For the past 3 years he has consulted as a Writer-in-Residence at over 25 schools through out the city, working through Teachers and Writers Collaborative, The Carribean Cultural Center and The Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center.   He has published dozens of student anthologies and spoken word Cds.  He was an Assistant Engineer on the Project Blues album and is a plaintiff in a class action suit against NYC Street Crimes Unit, for racial profiling. His work has been published in various antholgies including A Gathering of the Tribes, and the award winning publication, Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Cafe

Hector Luis Rivera Jr. (vocals, congas)  Hector has been writing and performing poetry for the past 12 years. His poetry was commissioned for "Blind Alley," a Puerto Rican travellig theater production written by Nancy Nuevez. His poetry was also included in Taller Boricua (NYC) 30th. Anniversary exhibition. As an activist Hector has participated, organized and led many community struggles around housing, environmental justice, police brutality, political prisoners, and most recently, Vieques. Hector has participated in two acts of civil disobedience against the immoral presence of the US Navy in Vieques. Hector is also an educator at many New York city-based schools.

Dahu Ala (vocals, trumpet)  Papa-hu is a mentor to many youth in East Harlem where he lives and grew up.  Dahu is a poet and heads the horn section in the Welfare Poets.

Djibril Toure (bass guitar) Producer and Electric Bass player, Djibril has performed with and alongside a wide array of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Ayers, The Roots, Fat Joe, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Slick Rick, Q-Tip and Jeru the Damaja. His work can be heard on several recordings by Wu-Tang Clan, Hedrush, Rise & Shine, Rha-Goddess, and the Welfare Poets. He is also a committed grassroots activist and has been involved in organizing efforts around police brutality, political prisoners, and Vieques PR.

Jorge "Georgie" Vázques (timbales, congas, beats)  Jorge is a percussionist of diverse genres and instrumentation. He also plays timbales, barriles, bongo, and a variety of Afro-Caribbean drums. Georgie was a member of Los Amigos de la Plena, and is a founder of YerbaBuena. He has played with Viento de Agua Unplugged, Los Instantáneos de la Plena (of El Rincón Criollo), Los Bomberos de Brooklyn, and Taíno.

Georgie has performed at prestigious venues throughout the country and Puerto Rico, as well as on radio and television. For his dedication to Puerto Rican musical traditions he was bestowed a Masters’ honor by the folkloric institution Los Pleneros de la 21. His mentors include masters Alberto “Tito” Cepeda and Giovanni Hidalgo, and he has performed alongside legends Tito Puente and Yomo Toro. Along with the Welfare Poets, Georgie is a member of Ya Está and recently recorded on their debut album Afro Latino Soul.

Emi (keyboards, trumpet)  ME plays keyboards and is also a teacher in NYC public school.

UNIVERSITIES
Ithaca College, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Old Westbury, Stoneybrook University, SUNY Albany, Syracuse University, CUNY Hunter, Marymount Manhattan College, Rutgers University, Yale University, Cornell University, New York University, Stevenson College, Rutgers University, Columbia University, D'Youville College, Pratt University, Borough of Manhattan College, Columbia University, Harvard University, City Collge in New York, Queens College, Haverford College, Union College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Smith College, Brown University, Buffalo State University, University of Buffalo, Princeton University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Dartmouth University, Wesleyan University, UC at Berkley

COMMUNITY CENTERS
Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Southside Community Center, Hispanic Aids Forum, Charter Oak Cutlureal Center of Hartford, CT, Atabex Ache of NYC, Casa Mutua, the Point CDC, El Puente, Hartley House, Latino Interfaith Pastoral Center, St. Mary's Church, Local 1199, Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center, Community Service Society, Elmira Prison Facility, BAAD (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance), Rikers Island Correctional Facility, Eastern Correctional Facility, The Puffin Room, Aquebana Bookstore, African Arts Festival, Boston Ballet, Anthony Baez Foundation, Racial Justice Day, NYC, Rally Against The Death Penalty, March Against Police Brutality, The Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, California, La Maacla Community Center, San Jose, California, Martin Luther King Forum, Oakland, California, James Weldon Johnson family day 2001, Taller Puertoriqueno, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ELEMENTARY& HIGH SCHOOLS
PS 121, Central park East II, St Raymond's Catholic HS, PS 79, PS 131, St Simon Stock School, Hartford Public HS, Newington HS in CT, Zora Neale Heasrston Academy, El Puente High School, Murry Bergtraum High School, Escuela Roosevelt, Vieques, PR.

CAFES AND POETRY CLUBS
Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Cafe Creole, the Beal Bodtch Cafe, NewsRoom Bar, SOB's Sistah's Place, Joloff's Cafe, Nuyorican Café, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Clemente Soto Velez Center, Rockwells Bar.