CJ Suitt

CJ Suitt (he/him or they/them) is a performance poet, arts educator, and community-rooted organizer from Chapel Hill, NC, who believes in the transformative power of storytelling to build connection, cultivate empathy, and drive justice. CJ was the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Chapel Hill, NC. CJ has co-directed, produced, and starred in theatrical productions and performed at many national and local music festivals. His work as a Restorative practices advocate has allowed him to work with young people awaiting trial, older inmates at Orange County Correctional Facility, and high school and college-aged men pushing to redefine masculinity in their schools and communities. Whether on stage, in classrooms, or within grassroots movements, CJ centers his work in the pursuit of equity and the amplification of voices often left unheard. He is committed to being a bridge for communities who can't always see themselves in each other.