Hannah L Drake is a blogger, activist, public speaker, poet, and author of 11 books. She writes commentary on politics, feminism, and race. Hannah was selected by the Muhammad Ali Center to be a Daughter of Greatness which features prominent women engaged in social philanthropy, activism, and pursuits of justice. Hannah was selected as one of the Best of the Best in Louisville, Kentucky for her poem "Spaces" and recently was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Kentucky Governor recognizing an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to community, state, and nation. Hannah’s message is thought-provoking and at times challenging, but Hannah believes that it is in the uncomfortable spaces that change can take place. “My sole purpose in writing and speaking is not that I entertain you. I am trying to shake a nation.”

Minda Honey is a Louisville writer, founder of TAUNT, and served as the LEO Weekly's relationship advice columnist for several years. She has published many personal essays and articles about dating, including the recent viral piece on Black women's singlehood for ESPN's The Undefeated. Her essay collection about dating as a woman of color in Southern California, An Anthology of Assholes, is forthcoming from Little A summer 2023.

Dr. McCormack is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Pan-African Studies and he is the current director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research at the University of Louisville. He earned his PhD in 2013 from the Vanderbilt University Department of Religion, where he was also a fellow. He is also a proud undergraduate alum of UofL. His research explores the intersections between Black religion, popular culture, the arts, and activism. He is one of the university’s inaugural Ascending Stars Fellows and an Academic Research Fellow at the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis. Dr. McCormack is also a frequent speaker and lecturer, having been invited to speak at a range of institutions from HBCUs to Ivies. But he finds his deepest joy in speaking outside of academia: at churches, public schools, community centers, and other places where everyday folks are gathered and engaged in collective meaning-making and ongoing struggles for freedom.

Shashray McCormack is a Cultural Humility Coach at Grace James Academy of Excellence. Grace James’ mission is to empower, activate, and illuminate academic excellence in each and every girl through an Afrocentric and gender specific STEAM curriculum. “My work is important to our community because what we don't have we must create, and that is space. Space where all girls, Black girls, in particular, are taught to value their worth and to use and center their voices to challenge the status quo. Space that gives girls and women that look like me permission to be brilliant.”

Ken Robinson At Actors Theatre: Romeo & Juliet: Louisville 2020, A Christmas Carol. Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Color Purple (2016 Revival), Memphis and Baby It’s You! Regional: Cincinnati Playhouse, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Cleveland Play House, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Marin Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre, and Seattle Rep. Additional Credits: Robinson received his M.F.A. in acting from Yale School of Drama and his B.A. in economics from Morehouse College.

Dr. Kaila Story is Associate Professor, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, at the University of Louisville, with a joint appointment in the Department of Pan-African Studies. She holds the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Dr. Story was also a part of NBC’s inaugural #Pride30 which featured LGBTQ Community leaders and change makers. She also co-hosts an award-winning podcast with longtime Louisville activist Jaison Gardner called Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture, and Black Gay Life on WFPL (Louisville affiliate of NPR).  You can find current and past episodes here: strangefruitpod.org