Lindsay is a teacher working for over 20 years with migrant and immigrant students, people who are currently or were formerly incarcerated and others who come from marginalized communities who are working toward an HSE diploma. With a BA in Ethnic Studies and an MA in Education, she uses love, understanding and empathy to support learners on their academic journeys and beyond. As a white, cisgender woman, she is committed to deconstructing the power of whiteness as well as challenging cis-centric, heterocentric and ableist systems in education and society as a whole. 

Angel is a teacher working for over 40 years helping students from marginalized communities to identify and achieve their goals. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, he has worked with diverse students of all ages. He believes that for societies and cultures to remain vibrant, we must preserve and share accurate stories and knowledge. He is an HSE expert and uses his knowledge and expertise to benefit and support students in the classroom and beyond. 

Amatan Noor is a technical project manager by trade. She currently works at a purpose-driven digital media agency. She is a pushcart prize nominated poet in addition. She has performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Brooklyn Museum among other venues. Her poems have been published or are forthcoming on Dialogist, Thimble, No, Dear Magazine, The South Shore Review and elsewhere. Amatan lives in Brooklyn.

Maya is a student at Baruch College majoring in Journalism and minoring in French. Though she struggled with academics in her early years, she has rediscovered her love for learning and, on top of studying, is a writing tutor for her fellow students. She graduated with an AA from Hostos Community College in the Bronx, maintaining a 4.0 during her two years there and earning the Presidential Medal of Honor at graduation. 

Tahtianna Fermin is a model, activist, Ordained Minister, and the founder and CEO of Bridges4Life, which provides housing and preparation for adulthood for teens involved in the sex trrade, specifically Black trans sex workers and sex trafficking survivors. She is also CEO and chair president of The National LGBTQ Workers Center’s NYC chapter, serving on the Center’s National Board as its New York Liaison. She spoke at the Presidential debate in 2008 for Barack Obama, and was key in the implementation of hormonal therapy through Medicaid. She is a WIFE, a Mother, a daughter and most importantly a sibling of our community.

Jessica is an activist and educator originally from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the unceded land of the Lenape.  She is active with Washington Square Park Mutual Aid, Uptown Revolutionaries and Upper East Side for Black Lives Matter. All groups are working to end police violence, defund and /or abolish police/carceral systems and provide mutual aid within communities. She is a white, cis woman who is legally blind, a breast cancer /double mastectomy without reconstruction warrior, and a narcolepsy struggler who is determined to fight for justice until her dying day! She is mom to a teenager, a special educator, social worker, meditation practicer and practitioner, and likes to think that she leads her life with love and compassion for all things.

Chih-Jen came to the US from Taiwan in 1978 as a graduate student at Rice University and has been living in this country ever since. His proudest achievement is having started a family and raised two daughters that have given him four grandchildren that he can spoil! He and his wife belong to the Asia Society in Houston that has held frequent cultural and arts events. He is also a member of the 80-20 Initiatives, which is a national organization that promotes awareness of political involvement and diversity within the Asian community. He likes to share his experiences with fellow immigrants so one day they can be as successful as they want to be in this country we all call home.

Lavin is originally from the island of Oahu, Hawai’i and enjoys regularly speaking and educating about issues important to the Kanaka Maoli, the native people of Hawai’i. She works to uplift and amplify voices in the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement. She is the proud mother of two children, to whom she teaches to respect their own culture, as well as the beautiful and diverse cultures around them.

Victor was born and raised in Mexico City and moved to Tijuana around the age of 16. Since his youth, he has been active in various educational and social justice projects, volunteering and working for different non-profit organizations. He studied a BA in Romance Languages at the University of Vienna and is currently studying a Master’s in International Development at the University of Vienna while simultaneously finishing a Master’s degree in Blockchain Technologies at the University of Barcelona. He enjoys working on projects that offer different perspectives and center traditionally excluded voices.

Ashley is a designer and user interface experience expert. He has a strong interest in design and technology, particularly products, services and solutions which combine both to create unique and useful solutions for people. He strives to help others achieve their goals and will make them a priority. He genuinely finds that he is  more satisfied and happy when he has helped someone find exactly what they need or better. For him, a smile and sincere thank you go a long way. He is a proud husband and father, and loves spending time with his family.