Part writer, part musician, part muse, Maddy Clifford uses her love of words, sound and ceremony to cultivate a more just and beautiful existence.

After attaining an MFA in Poetry, Maddy spent a decade teaching healing-centered and culturally relevant creative writing classes to incarcerated youth. An avid musician and outspoken activist, Maddy's musical catalogue covers topics ranging from Climate Justice to Prison Abolition. She’s released numerous independent projects, including her most recent short-form album, downCHANTS. Her expertise has allowed her to travel to Uganda and Argentina to use Hip Hop culture as a tool of Cultural Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. Maddy has had the esteemed honor of collaborating with artists like the late great Zumbi of Zion I, she was part of a GRAMMY-nominated album with Alphabet Rockers, and she’s set to release a project with RyanNicole and Coco Peila. As an independent creative, her background has involved funding, curating and spearheading artistic collaborations. Maddy’s writings, in particular, have appeared in KQED Arts, 48 Hills, TruthOut and you can find her providing helpful tips to artists online.

Maddy currently works as a Cultural Strategist in Government with the City of Oakland as well as Deputy Press Secretary with the Debt Collective.