DeRay McKesson is a civil rights leader and organizer who serves as Executive Director of Campaign Zero, a national initiative focused on advancing policy solutions that promote fairness, accountability, and safety within the criminal legal system. His work centers on developing practical strategies to reduce injustice and expand equity across communities. 

Jessica Spotswood is the internationally bestselling author of the Cahill Witch Chronicles. She is the editor of the feminist anthologies A Tyranny of Petticoats and The Radical Element, and co-editor of Toil & Trouble. Her next novel, The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls, will be released in August from Holt. Jess’s books have been included on the ALA’s Rainbow and Rise lists and chosen as Junior Library Guild selections. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, author Stephen Spotswood, and she works at the DC Public Library.

Tara Hernandez is President of JCH Properties+, a real estate investment, consulting, and development firm focused on transforming underused properties into vibrant, design-driven urban spaces. Through her leadership, the company develops multifamily housing, mixed-use commercial projects, and specialized developments that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of cities.