Jaleesa is a Ph.D. student in the lifelong kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab. Her current research focus is exploring the different ways youth of color interact with computers and technology, in an effort to design playful technologies with and for them.

Makshya is a poet living in the spaces between black memory and ecological possibility. She has recently published poetry in Narrative Magazine, Ran Off With The Star Bassoon, Alluvia Magazine, and The Night Heron Barks. She has poetry and essays forthcoming in Emergence Magazine and Art Papers.

Sage is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and changemaker. As co-founder of Future For Us, a platform dedicated to advancing women of color through community, culture, and career development, Sage has galvanized a nationwide movement to build a future of work through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Philip has spent most of his 13-year career in the nonprofit sector, much of it abroad, and he continues to be most passionate about issues affecting the wellbeing of people and the planet. Philip is currently the founder and CEO of Grantable, an online marketplace for grant services.

Abari is a South Sudanese-American, refugee rights advocate, social entrepreneur, and life-long learner. Abari is the founder of Niolette, a B corps focused on giving back to South Sudanese refugees. Through her various work, Abari believes that great work can be done with unity, passion, and planning.

Iván Ramirez is the Director of Digital Experiences at Revolución Educativa Kansas City (RevED KC). A trusted community member and advocate. Ivan joins LEC as Director of Digital Experience. Ivan is passionate about developing the leadership capacity of underrepresented students. Ivan is driven by his passion for building accessible and equitable education for all students.

Melanie Kong is a high school STEM Educator from Seattle, WA. She is passionate about empowering teachers and students to solve problems in their communities and leads professional development for project-based learning, design thinking, and engineering education. She is co-founder and CEO of Floop, a feedback platform that helps teachers give feedback to students.

Merivet is a Yakima resident, a first-generation college graduate, and a strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication from Central Washington University. Merivet is skilled in nonprofit organizations, youth program development, and community outreach, with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit sector.

Lish has worked in youth development since she was a teenager, working at summer camps and after-school care programs. During high school, they became invested in creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful conversation. Lish works facilitating a program that educates young people about the global water crisis and sustainable development practices.

Va’eomatoka “Toka” Valu was born and raised in the South Pacific Islands of Tonga and migrated to the United States with his late mother in 1997. As an artist, his practice focuses on uplifting Pasifika cultural wisdom. Toka serves the Pasifika Community as Director of Communications & Arts Development at the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington.

Born of Nigerian descent, Kilam T.A. is a Seattle native whose work merges his pragmatic thinking with a more energetic attitude with hints of hip-hop and pop culture influences. While many poems come off like a lecture, or someone airing out their grievances, Kilam’s poetry is a relationship. His work grapples with the harsh realities of the world with caution, ferocity and honesty.

Anne is a creative lead and video producer at the Charles Butt Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to strengthening public education in Texas. She crafts stories that give a voice to Texas students, teachers, and school leaders. She believes in the connective and transformative power of storytelling in building a more equitable world.