Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick were born and raised in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. As husband and wife team, they have been documenting Louisiana and its people for more than 25 years. In New Orleans, they have documented the music culture, which consists of Brass Bands, Jazz Funerals, Social and Pleasure Clubs, Benevolent Societies, and the Black Mardi Gras Indians.

Richard C. Adkerson is an American business executive who currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Freeport-McMoRan. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Freeport from 2003 until June 2024 and has been a member of its board since 2006, taking on the role of chairman in February 2021.

Dr. Megan Holt is the Executive Director for One Book One New Orleans and the Words & Music Literary Festival. Raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Megan received a B.A. in English and Spanish from the University of Alabama in 2003 and a Ph.D in English/Comparative Literature from Tulane University in 2013. The same year, she began her work with community literacy. She received the 2014 Literacy Champion of Greater New Orleans award.

Adam Adatto Sandel is a philosopher, award-winning teacher, and holder of the Guinness World Record for Most Pull-Ups in One Minute.

Carolyn Barber-Pierre is the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Multicultural Affairs.

As curator of the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, a unit of Tulane University Special Collections, Melissa A. Weber promotes and educates about archives and primary sources related to the music and culture of New Orleans and the surrounding region. She oversees the responsible stewardship, accessibility, and discoverability of Hogan Archive's collections and materials. Her work includes collection development, acquisitions, reference and research services, donor relations, formal instruction, and outreach and community engagement. 

Sarah Gelman is a well-known Amazon reviewer and book enthusiast, recognized for her insightful and engaging reviews on the platform. She is the Head of Books Editorial at Amazon, where she curates content, selects book recommendations, and leads editorial initiatives. Gelman has a strong background in literature and has a passion for sharing her love of reading with others. Through her work at Amazon, she plays a key role in shaping the platform’s book-related content and helping readers discover new titles.

Katherine Fausset has worked in book publishing since 1998, starting at the Watkins/Loomis Agency. She joined Curtis Brown, Ltd. as an agent in 2006. She represents literary fiction, commercial fiction, and select non-fiction. Her clients include multiple award-winning, national and international bestselling authors.

Clancy DuBos is a political analyst and columnist based in New Orleans. He serves as the political editor for Gambit and an on-air analyst for WWL-TV's Eyewitness News. DuBos began his journalism career in 1981 and has worked for several New Orleans TV stations. A licensed attorney, he holds degrees from Loyola University and the University of New Orleans. He has earned multiple awards and honors for his work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Press Club of New Orleans. DuBos is also active in various local organizations and nonprofits.