Malcolm Mitchell is an author, literacy advocate, and former professional athlete whose journey from the football field to the world of books has inspired millions. A native of Valdosta, Georgia, Malcolm excelled at the University of Georgia (UGA), where he became one of the school’s all-time leading receivers and earned national recognition for his community service as Captain of the Allstate Good Works Team.
ALICIA McKENZIE is an author, entrepreneur, and the proud mother of five. After concluding her career as a competitive USAW and CrossFit athlete, she turned to real-estate investing and health and wellness coaching, with a focus on incorporating evidence-based holistic health practices into the lives of adults and children.
Dr. Holly MacKenna is an integrative psychiatrist, physician, and healer with over 20 years of experience in psychiatry and integrative medicine. A passionate advocate for mindfulness and mental well-being, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals find balance, resilience, and focus—both in life and on the court. As a longtime medical educator and chronic illness patient, she strives to improve public health and reduce mental health stigma through her work. Inspired by her family’s love of basketball and the experiences of her two children, Dr.
Monique Lorden is an author and artist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her vibrant books, visual art: including murals, innovative light art, larger-than-life inflated sculptures, and permanent sculptures, bears witness to her commitment to cultural expression and activism. Her creativity seeks to further enrich community landscapes and stories. Monique believes that “art is a catalyst for community action, a bridge that connects voices and fosters change."
Jen Hayes Lee is an author, marketing executive, and proud New Orleans native whose work celebrates confidence, connection, and community. Her debut children’s book, The Golden Hoops (HarperCollins, September 2025), tells the story of a young girl discovering her inner magic through the rite of passage of receiving her first pair of hoops.
Beyond her distinguished legal career, Kaye Courington is deeply committed to community service, serving on the boards of the LA/MS Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Louise S. McGehee School, the Newcomb Institute Advisory Council, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. She brings her passion for storytelling and love for animals to her debut book, Scrim: A New Orleans Story of Resilience and Rescue chronicling Scrim’s journey through the heart of New Orleans.
Connie Collins Morgan holds a Master of Fine Arts in Children’s Literature from Hollins University, where she completed her thesis, The Cajun I Am, a collection of six original children’s stories. A former Maryland public school teacher with over 25 years of experience in elementary and middle school education, she is the author of three children’s books: The Runaway Beignet, Hercules on the Bayou, and The Cajun Fisherman and His Wife—each earning praise and recognition from Kirkus Reviews and the ReViews section of School Library Connection.
Jesse Byrd is an award-winning children's book author from New Orleans and Oakland, CA. He has six published works and has also helped over 400 kids become published authors through his "Each Story Matters" book publishing workshop. When he's not writing he's serving as a literary agent for 30 authors and illustrators from over a dozen countries. He's MOST proud of being a new dad to his son, Atlas.
Monisha Bajaj is a South Asian American author and a Professor of International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco. A Year of Kites (2026) is her debut picture book and was inspired by her lifelong love of kites. She is the editor and author of eight academic books and numerous articles on issues of peace, human rights, migration, and education; she is also the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Human Rights Education. Dr.
A student at Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Craziest Cajun Football Tale is Melina Alipio’s debut illustrated children’s book. She loves all things in the visual arts from traditional and mixed media to photography and digital art.
