Mark Charles is a speaker, writer, and consultant. The son of an American woman (of Dutch heritage) and a Navajo man, Mark teaches the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and Christendom in order to help forge a path of healing and conciliation for the nation. In 2012, Mark hosted a public reading at the US Capitol of the buried apology to Native peoples in the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill given by the 111th Congress. He is the co-author of the book, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, and he authors the blog Reflections from the Hogan.Mark is currently an independent candidate for the presidency of the United States.
Nayda A. Cuevas Ramos was born in Puerto Rico. Her family migrated in 1990 to Florida. As a means of negotiating alienation and the absence of familiar people and places she turned to the arts to explore her identity. She obtained a BFA in Fine Art (2002) from Stetson University in Deland FL and her MFA in Visual Arts (2015) at Lesley College of Art (Former Art Institute of Boston) in Cambridge, MA. Ms. Cuevas passion emerged for unearthing a visual language to better articulate through visual arts her observation and/or interpretation of her Latinx American experience.
Wallace Juma is an experimental visual artist based in Nairobi Kenya, born 6th Sept, 1987 in Busia Kenya. He studied ART and DESIGN at Buruburu Institute Of Fine Art specializing in drawing, painting and graphics design. Recently co-founded Kijani artist collective. In his art, he uses an array of material and technique to visualize his message and thoughts. He exhibited his works in numerous art shows in East Africa, Nigeria, Europe, USA and Australia. Most recently won the ‘Manjano 2018’ first prize.
Yara Liceaga-Rojas is a queer Afro-Caribbean Puerto Rican mother, poet/writer, performer, cultural worker, and educator. A Brother Thomas Fellow, Yara is the author of multiple books of poetry, recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, and longtime curator/coordinator of the multidisciplinary arts series Poetry Is Busy. She offers workshops in libraries, museums, schools, community spaces, foundations, and other sites. Join her at patreon.com/yaraliceagarojas, where you can find exclusive content.
Cindy Lu is a former scientist and has been making art full-time for the past three years. Her work emphasizes experimentation and uses materiality to explore the dynamics of interaction and the tension of intermediate states, particularly with respect to societal transformations.
Edafe Okporo is an LGBTQ rights activist, Author of BED 26, a memoir and the off broadway show BED26 play. He is the Executive Director of RDJ Refugee Shelter in Harlem, he considers himself a bridge. He teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people and grow meaningful communities. He has spoken to world leaders at the UN, educational institutions and Fortune 500 organizations. Learn more about his work at EdafeOkporo.com. As an openly gay and proud Nigerian, him and his partner lives in the heart beat of New York city.