​Nicole Lanier Montez hails from Mount Vernon, a vibrant city in Westchester County, New York, known for its rich history and notable sites. Montez is an author, poet, and entrepreneur known for her bold work exploring social, economic, and racial issues. With a poetic career spanning four decades, Montez has authored several poetry books and a spoken word CD, leaving a lasting impact on the literary world. Her work is featured in esteemed collections, including the Poet House and the Library of Congress. Since 2015, she has been dedicated to fostering diverse poetic voices as a workshop facilitator, enriching the literary landscape across generations in the U.S.