Kwadwo Adae is a Ghanaian-American visual & muralist based in New Haven, CT.  He is the Founder & Director of Adae Fine Art Academy, an independent art school specializing in the individualized instruction of drawing and painting to children, teenagers, and adults.  He is an award-winning, collaborative muralist responsible for the installation of over thirty works of public art since 2014.

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Johnnie Bird III, also known as Introverted JB, is an author, business owner, and proud introvert committed to shifting the way the world sees quiet strength. A first-generation college graduate of both the University of Connecticut and Yale University, JB first proved his persistence as a walk-on to UConn’s Men’s Basketball national championship program. 

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Earl Bloodworth is the Executive Director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV), an advocacy and educational organization. In his first legislative session, he successfully led the effort to pass HB 7042, making Connecticut the first New England state and the tenth in the nation to enact a law that allows residents to hold firearm manufacturers and dealers accountable for illegally selling weapons that cause harm.​​​

Stuart moved to New Haven as a joint degree student at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) and the Yale School of Management (SOM) in 2008. Since 2011, he has led the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, a joint initiative of YSE and SOM, where an interdisciplinary team of students, staff and faculty connect Yale’s expertise with partners tackling urgent environmental challenges, from accelerating climate tech innovation here in New Haven to advancing sustainability solutions with impact around the globe. 

Anne-Marie Knight, MBA, is a visionary leader, strategist, and speaker whose journey bridges engineering, ministry, and more than 40 years of nonprofit and entrepreneurial leadership. Trained in engineering and serving for several years as a design draftsman, she developed a systems mindset and a love for building. She later pursued ministry training, which deepened her commitment to human flourishing and gave her a unique ability to connect purpose with practice.

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Yexandra Díaz is a professional storyteller, educator, and full-spectrum doula whose work bridges art, culture, and advocacy. A lifelong New Haven resident, Yex has established herself as a community leader with deep roots in youth development and civic engagement. Her intersectional approach is evident in her current strategic development roles with Hang Time CT and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, where she advances initiatives at the crossroads of community, creativity, and justice.

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Jessica Sager, co-founder and CEO of All Our Kin, is an unwavering advocate of child care reform, focused on uplifting family child care, which stands at the nexus of equity, education, and the economy. 

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Abraham Santiago is a revolutionary leader, author, and advocate committed to dismantling oppressive systems and building pathways to liberation. His work bridges healthcare, education, policy research, and grassroots organizing to expand visibility, opportunity, and equity.