Mayda Del Valle is the reigning National Poetry Slam Champion, the youngest person to ever win the coveted title and the first woman since 1996, as well as the first of Latin heritage ever. Mayda draws inspiration for her writing from all sources, like Chicago and New York, growing up Puerto Rican in a multicultural neighborhood, with Mexican, Arab-American, Black and Polish cultures all on the same block. Hip Hop, Latin jazz, Salsa, R&B, Miles Davis, Tito Puente, Al Green and Ella Fitzgerald all have their fingerprints in Mayda's words. Mayda has appeared on the HBO show Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, numerous college campuses, and this summer will be seen in the theatrical version of Def Poetry in San Francisco. She is currently working on a one-woman show and has presented it in workshop off-Broadway