A graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Cassandra has contributed to local news publications including The New York Beacon, Norwood News, and the Metuchen Mirror, and to television outlets such as PBS and Democracy NOW!

Emma Uk is a local journalist and has written for local news outlets such as TAPinto Flemington-Raritan, TAPinto TheBReeze and The Link News. Emma is an avid movie lover and researcher, born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from Columbia University with a B.A in English.

Ishani Bakshi attends the Edison High STEM program in Central Jersey. She is interested in the intersection of education, policy, and environment, and recently won the Student Impact in New Jersey Journalism award from the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media for such work. When not typing away at a new story, you can find Ishani leading her high school Model UN program or editing her school paper, the Eagle’s Eye. In her free time, she likes to read, bake, and binge rom coms!

Brian began his career as a freelancer for the Washington Post, then staffing with the News Journal in Wilmington, DE followed up with the Associated Press in Trenton, NJ. Brian is a National Headliner award winning photographer. He focuses on portraiture, reportage and editorial photography and specializes in Black and white Photography.

He earned a B.S in Environmental Geology and a minor in Fine Arts from Howard University. Brian enjoys cycling and is a member the Major Taylor Cycling Club of New Jersey, American Society of Media Photographers and The National Association of Black Journalists: Visual Task Force and VTF Parliamentarian.

Alaa Essafi holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University-Newark. She is passionate about uplifting and telling the stories of undervalued communities through journalism and programming. She currently serves as the director of programming at the Muslim Network, an organization that aims to build inclusive New Jersey Muslim communities that serve Muslims across race, gender, generation, revert, and disability status. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, learning how to cook Moroccan food, and traveling.

Raised in Jersey City, Zoe attends Brandeis University, studying under a Humanities Fellowship and as an International Business Scholar. She is passionate about journalism and law, and cares deeply about how they each impact the community. She has received multiple awards in her high school Mock Trial career, breaking multiple in-school records, and more recently received the Student Impact in New Jersey Journalism award from the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends, family, and her cats.

Josie Gonsalves has built a career spanning over 28 years in the NGO sector serving in various executive capacities. She brings decades of experience and expertise in building 501c3 entities. Additionally, she has published editorials on a variety of topics. Ms. Gonsalves was born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and remains involved in the NGO sector serving as the lead on the Resiliency Initiative with rural women agricultural producers.

Mandy Coriston is a New Jersey native writer, consultant, volunteer, and activist, who tirelessly supports food freedom, veterans’ causes, and environmental advocacy. She is a founding board member of the New Jersey Home Bakers Association, the founding coordinator of Delivering Gratitude at American Legion Post 278, and an award-winning Rutgers Certified Volunteer Master Gardener team leader. In addition to articles and op-eds published across northern New Jersey, Mandy is a prolific non-fiction and educational ghostwriter.

Renee Johnston is a registered member, and committee chairperson of the Green Party of NJ; and weekly co-host of Saturdays with Renee on Black Liberation Media. She actively volunteers with several mutual aid and political organizations which focus organizing educational opportunities to engage with people regarding abolition and other issues most impacting the material conditions of communities. Johnston is a former educator and union member.

Wayne Winborne is Executive Director of the Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS) at Rutgers University-Newark and assistant professor in Arts, Culture, and Media. He has numerous publications and is editor of a three-book series: Intergroup Relations in the United States: Research Perspectives; Programs & Organizations; and Seven Promising Practices. Mr. Winborne holds degrees from Stanford and New York University.

Sharon Stroye currently serves as the Director of Public Engagement in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University – Newark, where she also serves as the Director of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center. Sharon is a strategic and transformative Leader who has produced community-engaged environments in diverse industries, sectors, and organizations.

Dr. Kobi is a Probabilist and Statistician with over 20 years of publishing theoretical and methodological statistics in academic and business settings. He is the Senior Vice President for Research & Analysis at Warner Music Group and an Adjunct Professor of Statistics at Seton Hall University.He is the father to twelve-year-old Xenia, and they love kayaking when he's not teaching her to drive.

Linda McDonald Carter is a retired associate professor of government and former director of the Paralegal Studies Program at Essex County College. She is a well-sought after speaker on the political history of the U.S.A. Ms. Carter received a B.A. from Bloomfield College and a J.D. from Rutgers University. She also has a cool husband named Aaron.

Ande Richards is a multimedia journalist committed to using storytelling as a transformative medium. She recently moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey so she could work at NJ.com, where she is the Managing Producer, Diversity of Voices. She thinks democracy is malleable - it's what you make it.

Kim Gerstman has almost 30 years of experience in development as an innovative strategist with a successful track record creating and managing diverse fundraising programs. She started consulting in 2015 and is part of the consulting team of Interim Solutions. Kim serves on the Social Justice Committee of East End Temple, the Northeast Advisory Board of IGNITE National, and spends any free moment that she can at the theater.

Atim Annette Oton is a Nigerian-born, American and British educated designer turned Curator. She is the director and Curator of Calabar Gallery in New York. She is the African Art Curator for AMREF Health Africa ART BALL and Bronx: Africa. She spent her formative years in Calabar, Nigeria, studied architecture at the City College of New York and did graduate studies at the Architectural Association Graduate School in London, England.

John L Smith is a combat wounded Vietnam Veteran, retired Newark Police Detective, community volunteer to many Newark and New Jersey Advocacy Organizations. He is currently a Criminal Justice Educator at Essex County College, and Executive Vice President of the Adjunct Faculty Association. Smith is a graduate of Bloomfield College, with undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and a graduate of Seton Hall University, with a Masters in Education.

Joylyn Lampkin has 20+ years working across the public and private sectors in both Guyana & St Vincent & the Grenadines, where she currently resides.Ms Lampkin holds a B.Soc.Sc. Degree in Economics from the University of Guyana and a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Economics and an MA in International Economics from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. She runs an organic farm with her husband in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Jomo Sanga Thomas is a lawyer, journalist, and former Speaker of the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He received his B.A. from Brooklyn College, M.A. from Howard University, J.D. from Rutgers University and LEC from the Hugh Wooding law school. Mr. Thomas publishes a regular column on regional Caribbean politics, In Plain Sight. He is a massive fan of that gentleman sport, Cricket!