L’Oreal is a Chicago-based author, award-winning journalist, keynote speaker and the founder of LT in the City Media. She serves as Equity Observer’s democracy and justice reporter. 

Congresswoman Barbara Lee has been representing California’s 12th District (formerly 13th) since 1998. She is the highest ranking African American woman appointed to Democratic Leadership, serving as Co-Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. She also serves on the Budget Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending.

Christina Bejarano is a professor of political science at Texas Woman’s University, with an appointment with their Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. She studies the conditions under which racial/ethnic minorities and women successfully compete for U.S. electoral office, which is reflected in her book on Latina political candidates–The Latina Advantage: Gender, Race, and Political Success (University of Texas Press, 2013). Her work also focuses on how racial/ethnic minorities and women can shape or influence the current electoral environment, which is reflected in her second book–The Latino Gender Gap in U.S. Politics (Routledge Press, 2014).

Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee) is the Founder and CEO of IllumiNative, a racial and social justice organization dedicated to building power for Native peoples to advance justice, equity, and self-determination, which includes a 501©3 non-profit, IllumiNative, INC., as well as a media and production company, IllumiNative Media, LLC. Crystal built IllumiNative to activate a cohesive set of research-informed strategies that elevate the voices, stories, and contributions of contemporary Native peoples, shifting public perception and increasing support for Native issues. Crystal and IllumiNative were chosen as 2023 Elevate Prize and 2024 Skoll Awards Winners, and she was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 List in 2024.

Danielle Atkinson is the Founding Director of Mothering Justice and Mothering Justice Action Fund, two national organizations working to improve the lives of families by equipping the next generation of mother activists.

Atkinson is a nationally recognized speaker with extensive experience as a church-based, electoral, and community organizer. She has worked with organizations such as America Votes, State Voices, Population Connection, and The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. 

Atkinson serves on the board of directors of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Family Values at Work, Hope Starts Here, the Ghana Lacrosse Association and as the board chair for 9to5, in addition to her nonprofit board position. In 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Atkinson to the Michigan Women's Commission.


In November 2022, Atkinson was elected statewide to the Board of Governors of Wayne State University. 

Genny Castillo is the principal of Estrella South Consulting, LLC. Genny has become one of the prominent Latina organizers in the nation, widely known as someone who can make "politics understandable and fun!"  She has trained young people across the US South to become better organizers and policy advocates with innovative workshops and public discussions.  With close to 15 years of experience, Genny's professional achievements include COO of BLUE Institute, the Latinx Constituency Director in the Democratic Party of Georgia where she launched the statewide program ¡Vamos Georgia! focusing on Latinx engagement. Previously, Genny was the Director of Caucus Services for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus. Genny developed one of the nation’s most successful internship programs during her stint at the Georgia House. Genny holds a B.S. from Berry College and her A.M. from the University of Chicago in Social Service Administration.

Maya Wiley is a lawyer, professor, and civil rights activist. She is president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Additionally, she chaired the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) from 2016 to 2017 and was an MSNBC legal analyst from August 2018 to January 2021.

Saru Jayaraman is an American attorney, author, and activist from Los Angeles, California. She is the President of One Fair Wage and Director of the Food Labor Research Center.

Dr. Wendy G. Smooth is a professor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Political Science, and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. A scholar of intersectionality, her scholarship centers the experiences of women of color as political actors from voters to elective office and she is one of the foremost voices writing on the experiences of women of color as law makers in political institutions and women of color issues in public policy. Dr Wendy Smooth also serves as senior vice provost for inclusive excellence at The Ohio State University. She is a member of the board of directors for the non-profit organization, Beautifully Flawed and the advisory board for the Columbus Commission on Black Girls and is a member of the Alpha Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.