Javon Rustin is a poet, performer, and programmer; a writer of stories, stanzas, and software. He started competing in poetry slams after graduating from North Carolina A&T in 2013. Since then Javon has been a National Poetry Slam finalist and Regional Slam champion. He ranked 17th in the 2016 Individual World Poetry Slam and 5th in the 2023 National Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam. He has worked as a teaching artist for youth in D.C. and Dallas Public School Districts. He has been published in six anthologies and his performances can be found on Button Poetry, Write About Now, and All Def Poetry. Javon has performed and spoken for organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Oliver Wyman, Hyena’s Comedy Nightclub, BusBoys and Poets, Envision Health, and DFW Airport. He continues to compete with his poetry but always returns to his love of writing and speaking on topics such as mental health, Black joy, and diversity. He recently received his master’s degree from North Carolina A&T and has recently released his first published book of poetry entitled “Always Been Most High” in 2024.